Departmental Procurement

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of procurement contracts  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies awarded to small businesses in (i) 2006-07, (ii) 2007-08, (iii) 2008-09 and (iv) 2009-10; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: The following table shows what percentage of procurement contracts  (a) the Northern Ireland Office (NIO), including the Public Prosecution Service Northern Ireland but excluding its NDPBs and  (b) its agencies awarded to small businesses in (i) 2006-07, (ii) 2007-08, (iii) 2008-09 and (iv) 2009-10.
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			 NIO 28 26 30 13 
			 Forensic Science NI 2 0 13 0 
			 Youth Justice Agency 7 0 4 6 
			 Compensation Agency 2 0 0 0 
			 NI Prison Service 17 13 13 0 
		
	
	From 3 November 2008, the NIO contracted out its procurement services to the Central Procurement Directorate (CPD) in the Department of Finance and Personnel in Northern Ireland under a service level agreement (prior to this, the NIO ran its own procurement unit). These figures are for all contracts that are arranged through CPD (or, prior to 3 November 2008, the NIO's procurement unit). Collating information on other procurement contracts could be done only at disproportionate cost.

Northern Ireland Independent Monitoring Board

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many  (a) employed and  (b) self-employed members of the public are participating in the work of the Independent Monitoring Board.

Paul Goggins: There are 13 employed and two self-employed members across the Independent Monitoring Boards.

English Heritage: Fees and Charges

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the  (a) minimum,  (b) average and  (c) maximum price of entry to an English Heritage property was in each year since 1997.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 12 October 2009
	English Heritage has over 400 sites in its care of which around 112 charge admission. The remaining sites are free to visit.
	For the purposes of this answer, English Heritage has provided data for the 104 sites that were consistently in their care for the full period in question. The average price of entry to an English Heritage property, based on one full price adult ticket, in each of the following years was as follows:
	
		
			   £  
			   Minimum charge  Average charge  Maximum charge  Constant sample of sites 
			 1996-97 1.00 2.16 6.00 104 
			 1997-98 1.10 2.26 6.00 104 
			 1998-99 1.30 2.48 6.60 104 
			 1999-00 1.40 2.61 6.90 104 
			 2000-01 1.50 2.70 6.90 104 
			 2001-02 1.60 2.83 7.20 104 
			 2002-03 1.60 3.01 7.50 104 
			 2003-04 1.80 3.24 8.00 104 
			 2004-05 2.00 3.48 8.50 104 
			 2005-06 2.30 3.69 8.95 104 
			 2006-07 2.30 3.88 9.50 104 
			 2007-08 2.40 4.09 9.80 104 
			 2008-09 2.50 4.33 10.50 104 
			 2009-10 3.00 4.52 13.40 104

Gambling: Licensing

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many remote gambling licences have been issued by the Gambling Commission in each year since 2007; and how many such licensed remote gambling operators are regulated by the UK Gambling Commission.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Gambling Commission has provided the figures on remote licences issued in each of the last three calendar years.
	
		
			  Number 
			  Calendar year  Remote operating licences issued  Remote operating licences surrendered/revoked/lapsed  Ancillary remote licences( 1)  issued  Ancillary remote licences( 1)  surrendered/revoked/lapsed 
			 2007 189 2 366 4 
			 2008 96 29 56 38 
			 2009 86 34 52 47 
			 (1) An ancillary remote licence allows a non-remote licence holder to provide ancillary gambling facilities by means of remote communication in restricted circumstances. 
		
	
	As of October 2009, there are 306 operators holding a remote operating licence with the Commission and 385 operators holding a remote ancillary operating licence. These figures include 18 operators who hold both a remote operating licence and a remote ancillary operating licence.

Gambling: Licensing

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the gross gambling yield from remote gambling was in each of the last two years; and how many new player registrations for such gambling there were in each year since statistics have been collected.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Gambling Commission has published statistics on remote gambling conducted by its licensed operators since the changes under the Gambling Act 2005 came fully into effect on 1 September 2007.
	Estimated figures are available for the second half of 2007-08 and for the full 2008-09 financial year as set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Time period  Estimated gross gambling yield (£ million)  Estimated new player registrations (million) 
			 1 September 2007 to 31 March 2008 614.5 1.6 
			 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009 896 4.9 
		
	
	These figures do not include amounts gambled on sites located overseas by British residents but do include amounts gambled on sites located in Britain by overseas residents.

National Lottery

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the income of the National Lottery good causes has been in  (a) actual and  (b) real terms in each year since the National Lottery began.

Si�n Simon: The information requested is provided in the following tables:
	
		
			  (a) Actual (cash) terms 
			  000 
			   Arts  Sports  Heritage  Big Lottery Fund and predecessors  Olympics 
			 1994-95 58,693 58,688 58,691 117,396  
			 1995-96 306,475 306,580 305,869 614,372  
			 1996-97 314,924 316,730 316,623 637,746  
			 1997-98 353,541 363,280 365,747 867,390  
			 1998-99 281,714 302,742 310,209 1,021,756  
			 1999-2000 264,733 276,000 291,820 902,980  
			 2000-01 277,321 294,821 316,085 874,309  
			 2001-02 295,442 301,776 320,324 900,322  
			 2002-03 255,701 258,090 290,925 784,402  
			 2003-04 229,020 227,294 246,318 687,757  
			 2004-05 241,062 239,616 266,275 723,458  
			 2005-06 245,059 244,000 270,119 732,537 16,525 
			 2006-07 212,604 213,132 234,040 630,507 115,759 
			 2007-08 217,040 217,040 217,043 651,124 151,229 
			 2008-09(1) 207,783 210,256 207,785 612,961 211,063 
			 (1) Provisional outturn, net of Olympic transfers totalling 73 million between National Lottery Distribution Fund and Olympic Lottery Distribution Fund 
		
	
	
		
			  (b) Real terms using GDP deflator 
			  000 
			   Arts  Sports  Heritage  Big Lottery Fund and predecessors  Olympics 
			 1994-95 83,586.83 83,579.71 83,583.98 167,187.90  
			 1995-96 424,274.94 424,420.29 423,436.01 850,518.45  
			 1996-97 420,296.55 422,706.83 422,564.03 851,133.74  
			 1997-98 459,806.99 472,473.31 475,681.83 1,128,106.75  
			 1998-99 358,830.20 385,614.39 395,125.40 1,301,450.79  
			 1999-2000 330,693.03 344,767.28 364,528.94 1,127,963.62  
			 2000-01 341,924.15 363,500.85 389,718.39 1,077,983.13  
			 2001-02 356,306.23 363,945.10 386,314.19 1,085,798.02  
			 2002-03 298,744.04 301,535.19 339,897.42 916,443.13  
			 2003-04 260,235.21 258,273.96 279,890.92 781,497.64  
			 2004-05 266,511.15 264,912.49 294,385.91 799,834.16  
			 2005-06 265,966.64 264,817.29 293,164.68 795,034.68 17,934.86 
			 2006-07 224,112.16 224,668.74 246,708.48 664,636.06 122,024.98 
			 2007-08 222,363.38 222,363.38 222,366.45 667,094.24 154,938.22 
			 2008-09(1) 207,783.00 210,256.00 207,785.00 612,961.00 211,063.00 
			 (1) Provisional outturn, net of Olympic transfers totalling 73 million between National Lottery Distribution Fund and Olympic Lottery Distribution Fund

National Lottery

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much the National Lottery has generated in sales in  (a) actual and  (b) real terms in each year since the National Lottery began.

Si�n Simon: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			   million 
			  FY ending March 31  Actual Sales  Sales Real Terms 
			 1994-95 1,191 1,760 
			 1995-96 5,217 7,465 
			 1996-97 4,723 6,600 
			 1997-98 5,514 7,458 
			 1998-99 5,228 6,857 
			 1999-00 5,094 6,577 
			 2000-01 4,983 6,247 
			 2001-02 4,834 5,970 
			 2002-03 4,575 5,536 
			 2003-04 4,615 5,433 
			 2004-05 4,766 5,440 
			 2005-06 5,013 5,576 
			 2006-07 4,911 5,265 
			 2007-08 4,966 5,114 
			 2008-09 5,149 5,149 
			  Note: Real Terms calculated using the Retail Price Index

National Lottery

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the cost of the National Lottery Commission has been in  (a) actual and  (b) real terms in each year since its establishment.

Si�n Simon: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			   million 
			  FY ending March 31  Actual cost  Cost in real terms( 1) 
			 1999-00 3.6 4.5 
			 2000-01 5 6.2 
			 2001-02 3.1 3.7 
			 2002-03 3.3 3.9 
			 2003-04 4.1 4.7 
			 2004-05 4 4.4 
			 2005-06 8.9 9.7 
			 2006-07 11.4 12 
			 2007-08 8.3 8.5 
			 2008-09 5.8 5.8 
			 (1) Costs in 2008-9 prices. Calculated using GDP deflators

Bus Services: Concessions

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the merits of the introduction of mandatory free companion passes for those who accompany blind or partially-sighted people on bus journeys.

Sadiq Khan: The Government recently improved the statutory minimum concession to provide free off-peak local bus travel anywhere in England for eligible disabled people and those aged 60 or over.
	There are no plans at present to extend the statutory minimum to include companion passes. Under the Concessionary Bus Travel Act 2007, local authorities have the flexibility to offer locally funded benefits over and above the statutory minimum, including companion passes. I believe that local authorities are best placed to know about the needs and circumstances of their residents and to decide on the most appropriate concessions to offer in their particular area based on their overall financial priorities.
	The inclusion of companions to the entitlement is not just a question of cost, but also of ensuring robust and fair definitions of eligibility, mitigating against fraud and managing bus services' ability to respond.
	The Department for Transport recently commissioned some research on the cost and impact of options for extending the current statutory minimum concessionary travel scheme. Based on this research, the Department estimates that it would cost around an extra 104 million per annum to extend the statutory minimum concession to enable free companion passes to those older and disabled people who require them.

Cycling: Helmets

Annette Brooke: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent representations he has received on the wearing of cycle helmets; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: The Department for Transport frequently receives representations both for and against making the wearing of cycle helmets compulsory.
	On Thursday 13 August, the Government responded to a petition submitted by Luke Griggs of Headwaythe brain injury associationto introduce a new law to make it compulsory for children under 16 to wear helmets while cycling. The response sets out the Government's position on cycle helmet wearing and can be found on the Number10.gov.uk website at:
	http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page20350

Dartford-Thurrock Crossing: Tolls

Greg Knight: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what studies his Department has undertaken on the effect of the 50 per cent. toll rise on the number of vehicles using the Dartford crossing; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mole: The Department for Transport has not commissioned any specific studies to consider the effect of the recent changes to charges at the Dartford Crossing. However, the Highways Agency regularly monitors the performance and use of the crossing. An impact assessment was undertaken on the proposed changes when they were consulted upon.
	In a six-month period before the changes to the charges (1 April to 30 September 2008) 27,356,979 vehicles used the Dartford Crossing. In a comparable period (1 April to 30 September 2009) 27,054,297 vehicles used the Dartford crossing after the changes to the charges.

Domestic Waste: Waste Disposal

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons no  (a) impact assessment and  (b) equalities impact assessment was conducted in relation to clauses in the Climate Change Act 2008 in respect of the statutory duties of waste collection authorities for the collection of household waste.

Dan Norris: The amendment to section 46 of the Environmental Protection Act, made through the Climate Change Act 2008, provides a single point of reference in legislation for local authorities. As it was a clarification of published policy and not a new measure, consultation and development of an impact assessment were not deemed necessary.

Marine Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what procedures are followed in deciding what research projects to fund from the Marine Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The DEFRA chaired Marine ALSF Steering Group agrees the strategic direction of marine projects funded by the ALSF and ensures that they meet with the ALSF objectives.
	For the majority, the Marine ALSF Steering Group commissions projects via open calls advertised on the MALSF website. All Expressions of Interest and full tenders are evaluated by a panel drawn from the Marine ALSF Steering Group members. There may also be occasions where a short list of contractors is compiled from previously submitted Expressions of Interest and these contractors invited to submit full proposals at a later stage of commissioning. On a few occasions the Marine ALSF Steering Group may commission work by single action tender.
	All procurement and operation of evaluation panels is governed by the Marine Environment Protection Fund procurement protocol and panel terms of references contained within document MEPF: who we are and how we operate which is published on the MALSF website at:
	http://www.alsf-mepf.org.uk/downloads/documents/mepf---how-we-operate.aspx

River Lymington: Ferries

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he plans to take to protect the Natura 2000 site at the mouth of the Lymington River from damage by commercial ferry operators; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Natural England is in discussion with the relevant ferry operator over the action that can be taken to avoid any adverse effect on the integrity of the Natura sites in the vicinity of the Lymington river from ferry operations.
	Should Natural England advise that mitigation action cannot be taken to prevent any adverse effects, the Secretary of State, in conjunction with Natural England, will consider what steps it might be appropriate to take to avoid any damage to the protected sites.

Waste and Resources Action Programme

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total annual cost to the public purse was of  (a) the Waste and Resources Action Programme and  (b) the Waste Improvement Network in the last year for which figures are available.

Dan Norris: The Waste and Resources Action Programme's grant funding for 2008-09 was 55 million. The cost of running the Waste Improvement Network (WIN) for 2008-09 was 195,783. This cost covers delivery of the WIN Website, the Waste and Recycling Mentoring Scheme (WROMS) online conferencing tool, the co-ordination of waste network chairs and the development of an online self assessment tool for councils.

Weed Control: Avon

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effects on farmers incomes of English Nature discontinuing the practice of weed cutting in the lower Avon Valley; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: In 2004, the Environment Agency gave notice to landowners and farmers that it would review mechanised weed cutting in the lower River Avon in five years time. The review, which was undertaken through a local partnership between the Environment Agency, Natural England and fishery and farming interests, concluded that there were no flood or nature conservation benefits from the practice. Consequently mechanised weed cutting was discontinued.
	No assessment has been made of the implications on farmers' incomes of discontinuing mechanised weed cutting in the lower River Avon, although Natural England continues to give support and advice through Environmental Stewardship to farmers and landowners who wish to change their farming practice.

Weed Control: Avon

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what expenditure English Nature incurred on weed cutting in the lower Avon Valley in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Natural England (formerly English Nature) is not involved operationally in weed cutting but does provide scientific advice on the likely impacts of this activity.
	Mechanised weed cutting on the River Avon System has been carried out by the Environment Agency as part of its routine river management.
	The Environment Agency estimates the annual cost of weed cutting on the Lower Hampshire Avon over the last five years to be in the order of 120,000 per annum. This figure includes the direct operational costs (e.g. staff time and equipment), indirect costs (e.g. proportional costs for plant and consumables), plus additional costs such as those associated with liaison with local stakeholders. Costs vary year on year depending on how much weed has been cut, the timing of the cuts, and patterns of activity.

In Vitro Fertilisation

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has issued on the requirement to destroy embryos frozen under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act  (a) 1990 and  (b) 2008; what his policy is on embryos which have been stored for five years; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) code of practice provides guidance for centres on fulfilling the requirements placed on them by the legislation.
	As a result of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 the statutory limit on storage for embryos has been extended from five to 10 years, bringing it into line with the storage period for gametes (sperm and eggs). The Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Statutory Storage Periods for Embryos and Gametes) Regulations 2009 set out the criteria that must be fulfilled for storage periods to be extended beyond 10 years.
	For embryos that had been in storage for more than five years on the 1 October, where a five-year storage period applied to those embryos, the Government have made the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Supplementary Provision) Order 2009. The order permits, from 1 October, such embryos to remain in storage for 10 years from the date they were first put into storage. In addition to the order, the Government have also introduced the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Statutory Storage Period for Embryos and Gametes) (Amendment) Regulations 2009. These regulations embryos that remain in storage by virtue of the order to benefit from the extended storage periods set out in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Statutory Storage Period for Embryos and Gametes) Regulations 2009 provided they fulfil the conditions set out in those regulations.

Social Services: Leeds

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to increase the provision of social care and support in Leeds West constituency; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: The Department is investing circa 3.5 billion over this comprehensive spending review period to support improvements in the provision of social care. In particular, the social care reform grant will provide an extra 520 million for the reform and transformation of adult social care, helping people to retain independence and exercise choice and control over the help they need.
	In 2009-10, Leeds adult social care received a total of nearly 17.6 million of revenue and capital grant funding, both specific and non-specific. Of this, Leeds adult social care received 2.74 million in social care reform grant (revenue). Total grant funding by the Department to Leeds adult social care will increase to nearly 17.9 million in 2010-11. No data are available to identify the proportion of this funding used to support people in West Leeds.
	The responsibility for the provision of adult social care within West Leeds lies with Leeds city council and it will have worked with its local partnerships to inform and develop joint strategic needs assessment to identify and agree local priorities.

Social Services: Tamworth

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to increase the provision of social care and support in Tamworth constituency.

Phil Hope: The Department is investing circa 3.5 billion over this comprehensive spending review period to support improvements in the provision of social care. In particular, the social care reform grant will provide an extra 520 million for the reform and transformation of adult social care, helping people to retain independence and exercise choice and control over the help they need
	In 2009-10, Staffordshire Adult Social Care received a total of nearly 15.5 million of revenue and capital grant funding, both specific and non-specific. Of this, Staffordshire Adult Social Care received 2.85 million in Social Care Reform Grant (revenue), which is set to rise to 3.54 million in 2010-11.
	The responsibility for the provision of adult social care within Tamworth lies with Staffordshire county council and it will have used Local Strategic Partnerships to inform and develop a Joint Strategic Needs Assessment in Staffordshire to identify and agree local priorities.

Departmental Training

John Mason: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many external training courses have been attended by staff of his Department in the last 12 months; and what the cost of attendance at each such course was.

Peter Hain: Staff have attended a total of 18 external training courses in the last 12 months. The total cost for all 34 of those attendees was 16,094.19.

Carer's Allowance: Birmingham

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Birmingham Sparkbrook  Small Heath constituency  (a) are entitled to and  (b) receive carer's allowance.

Jonathan R Shaw: The information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Carer's allowanceBirmingham Sparkbrook and Small Heath constituency 
			   Number 
			 Total number entitled at February 2009 3,080 
			 Total number in payment at February 2009 2,450 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Carers entitled to receive carer's allowance may not be paid it because they receive an overlapping benefit equal to or greater than their weekly rate of carer's allowance.  Source: DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study

Employment and Support Allowance

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate she has made of the average  (a) cost of carrying out and  (b) time taken to carry out a work capability assessment for the Employment Support Allowance; and if she will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: It is not possible to supply the cost of medical examinations. This is because if the information was disclosed it would prejudice the commercial interests of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and/or Atos Healthcare IT Services Ltd., the Medical Services contractor. This falls under the exemption in section 43 of the Freedom of Information Act.
	The time taken to carry out a work capability assessment (WCA) for employment support allowance varies dependant on the customer's medical condition. This is because the examining health care professional's (HCPs) aim is to obtain the necessary information that is required by the Decision Maker, whose task it is to make the decision on benefit entitlement. The examination will therefore take as long as necessary to obtain sufficient information for the purpose of determining entitlement to benefit.

Work Capability Assessment

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what percentage of applicants in  (a) the UK and  (b) Scotland (i) failed and (ii) failed with no points the work capability assessment in the latest period for which figures are available; and how many of those in each category had their employment support allowance re-instated after appeal.

Jonathan R Shaw: National level statistics on the work capability assessment covering Great Britain were published on 13 October 2009 and are available via the ONS publication hub. A copy of the publication has been placed in the Library and can be accessed directly on the following website:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/workingage/esa_wca.asp
	The published data summarises work capability assessment results for employment support allowance claims up to the end of February 2009. The Department does not assess people on the basis of passing or failing the work capability assessment. At the work capability assessment people can be assessed as falling into one of three categories:
	Support group (for those with severe disabilities)they receive a higher rate of benefit entitlement overall and exemption from mandatory involvement with pathways;
	Work related activity groupthey receive higher rate of benefit than those on jobseeker's allowance and are mandated to engage with Pathways to Work;
	Fit for workindividuals can ask for a reconsideration or appeal if they disagree with the decision.
	The following table summarises the published figures for Great Britain and the equivalent figures for Scotland.
	
		
			  ESA on-flows October 2008 to February 2009 by result of medical assessment 
			   Great Britain  Scotland 
			  Work capability result  Volumes  Percentage  Volumes  percentage 
			 Support group 10,000 5 800 4 
			 Work related activity group 21,600 11 1,500 7 
			 Fit for work 68,800 36 8,600 42 
			 Claim closed before assessment complete 74,500 38 8,000 39 
			 Assessment still in progress 19,000 10 1,600 8 
			  Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest 100

Anti-Semitism

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of anti-Semitic attacks during Jewish high holy days in  (a) 2008 and  (b) 2009; and if he will make a statement; [R]
	(2)  what steps the Government is taking to protect the Jewish community from anti-Semitic attacks; and if he will make a statement. [R]

Alan Campbell: The Government abhor all forms of hate crime. It is not possible to make estimates of the number of anti-Semitic attacks during Jewish high holy days. However, the Association of Chief Police Officers National Community Tension Team (NCTT) collects intelligence data on hate crime which informs police deployment decisions and acts as an indicator of community tension. As such, NCTT data can inform responses to fluctuations in anti-Semitic attacks connected to particular events on an operational basis for the police.
	The Home Office has identified 5 million from the 2009-10 budget of the Office for Security and Counter Terrorism (OSCT) to reduce the vulnerability of crowded places to terrorist attack. This funding will be allocated to priorities identified by local partnerships and risk assessments carried out by Counter Terrorism Security Advisers (CTSAs). The funding will be directed at local authorities to improve the protection of crowded places locations and third sector organisations, such as the Community Security Trust, should work with local authorities to explore how they may make use of this funding.
	The All-Party Inquiry into Anti-Semitism: Government Response One year on Progress Report published in May 2008 set out our current programme of work to combat anti-Semitism. A command paper will be published by May 2010 setting out further progress. We have also recently published a Cross-Government Hate Crime Action Plan to tackle all forms of hate crime, including anti-Semitism.

Antisocial Behaviour: Crime Prevention

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what recent estimate he has made of the number of Mosquito ultrasonic devices in use in  (a) London and  (b) England;
	(2)  if he will review the use of Mosquito ultrasonic deterrent devices by  (a) police forces and  (b) others.

Alan Campbell: Information on the use of mosquito dispersal devices is not collected centrally by the Home Office.
	We encourage local agencies to consider the full range of innovations, schemes and practices intended to reduce crime, the fear of crime and antisocial behaviour. It is for local agencies like the police and local authorities to decide on the most appropriate interventions to tackle antisocial behaviour based on their knowledge of what works best locally. The Home Office does not promote or recommend any particular commercial product or venture above this.
	The use of any device like Mosquito which claims to disperse groups of young people should be treated with caution and if used should form part of an overall strategy to tackle drivers of that antisocial behaviour and to encourage more constructive behaviour.
	We have no plans to review the use of Mosquito ultrasonic deterrent devices.

Crime: Enfield

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of crime were recorded in Enfield North constituency in each year since 1997.

Alan Campbell: Statistics for the Enfield North constituency are not collected centrally.
	The available information relates to offences recorded by the police in the Enfield local authority area and is given in the following table. Data for total crime at local authority level are only available from 2000-01.
	
		
			  Table 1: Offences recorded by the police in Enfield2000-01 and 2001-02( 1) 
			   Number of offences 
			 2000-01 28,019 
			 2001-02 29,401 
			 (1) The data in this table is prior to the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for later years. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Offences recorded by the police in Enfield2002-03 to 2008-09( 1) 
			   Number of offences 
			 2002-03 30,042 
			 2003-04 29,998 
			 2004-05 28,131 
			 2005-06 27,473 
			 2006-07 27,058 
			 2007-08 25,248 
			 2008-09 24,566 
			 (1) The data in this table takes account of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for earlier years.

Crime: Leeds

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of crime were recorded in Leeds North West constituency in each year since 1997.

Alan Campbell: Statistics for the Leeds North West constituency are not collected centrally.
	The available information relates to offences recorded by the police in the Leeds local authority area and is given in the following tables. Data for total crime for Leeds is only available centrally from 2001-02.
	
		
			  Table 1: Offences recorded by the police in Leeds ,  2001-02( 1) 
			   Number of offences 
			 2001-02 120,477 
			 (1) The data in this table is prior to the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for later years. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Offences recorded by the police in Leeds ,  2002-03 to 2008-09( 1) 
			   Number of offences 
			 2002-03 128,920 
			 2003-04 125,692 
			 2004-05 103,404 
			 2005-06 98,014 
			 2006-07 94,184 
			 2007-08 85,737 
			 2008-09 82,272 
			 (1) The data in this table takes account of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for earlier years.

Departmental Advertising

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on which initiatives of his Department and its agencies expenditure on advertising has been incurred in each of the last five years; how much was spent on each such initiative; and which such initiatives were offered for tender through the Central Office of Information.

Phil Woolas: The following table outlines Home Office and its agencies spend on advertising in each of the last five years, broken down by campaign area. All were carried out via the Central Office of Information.
	Recruitment advertising is not done centrally but carried out across the Department and hence spend could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			   Campaign  Cost () 
			 2004-05 Acquisitive Crime Reduction 6,100,808 
			  Antisocial Behaviour 366,553 
			  Child Protection on the Internet 290,225 
			  Clean Up campaign 2005-06 25,722 
			  Domestic Violence 432,263 
			  Drugs (including FRANK campaign) 936,688 
			  Gun Crime 162,042 
			  Police Specials Recruitment 1,885,559 
			  UK Passport Service(1) 124,670 
			
			 2005-06 Acquisitive Crime Reduction 4,123,311 
			  Alcohol Misuse Enforcement Campaign 92,204 
			  Antisocial Behaviour 396,475 
			  Child Protection on the Internet 862,229 
			  Clean Up campaign 39,819 
			  Crime Stoppers 82,182 
			  Domestic Violence 534,587 
			  Drugs (including FRANK campaign) 1,524,701 
			  Park Mark Car Parks 94,260 
			  Police Specials Recruitment 1,389,166 
			  Rape 66,153 
			  UK Passport Service(1) 76,000 
			
			
			 2006-07 Acquisitive Crime Reduction 3,266,192 
			  Alcohol Binge drinking 1,975,005 
			  Alcohol Misuse Enforcement Campaign 231,713 
			  Child Protection on the Internet 46,824 
			  Domestic Violence 800,384 
			  Drugs (including FRANK campaign) 3,467,021 
			  Immigration 790,860 
			  Knife Amnesty 137,083 
			  PCSO Recruitment 1,748,743 
			  Rape 280,022 
			  Single Non-Emergency Number 780,325 
			  Stop and Search 134,501 
			  Identity and Passport Service (IPS) Communications(1) 105,950 
			
			 2007-08 Alcohol Harm Reduction 2,900,411 
			  Community Safety 866,889 
			  Drugs (including FRANK campaign) 898,509 
			  Immigration 1,973,558 
			  Kerb Crawling 218,025 
			  Mobile Phone Blocking 190,162 
			  IPSPassport Authentication by Interview 1,043,714 
			  IPS Communications(1) 78,417 
			
			 2008-09 Acquisitive Crime ReductionBurglary 918,170 
			  Alcohol Harm Reduction 2,790,203 
			  Community Safety 2,246,390 
			  Drugs (including FRANK campaign) 717,397 
			  Human Trafficking 8,928 
			  ImmigrationPoints Based System 2,453,007 
			  IPS Communications(1) 21,500 
			 (1) IPS Communications costs (and its predecessor the UK Passport Authority) were related to informing the public of passport fee increases and encouraging the public to get the applications in early to help distribute passport demand more evenly throughout the year.

Departmental Travel

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department spent on first class rail travel for officials in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: During 2008-09 the Home Office spent 3.8 million on first class rail travel with its main travel service provider. The Department's spend on all travel 2008-09, not including expenditure incurred by its agencies, was 14.6 million. The cost of travel for previous financial years cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.
	All Home Office expenditure on rail travel conforms to the principles of regularity, propriety and value for money, and any other guidance as applicable contained within Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity  Propriety.

Departmental Travel

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department spent on  (a) train travel,  (b) hotels and  (c) restaurant meals for (i) Ministers and (ii) staff in his Department in each of the last five years.

Phil Woolas: Information required to answer this question could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Details of business expenses and hospitality received by departmental senior officials for the quarter 1 April to 30 June 2009 can be viewed at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/about-us/publications/annual-reports-strategy
	The Cabinet Office annual list of overseas travel over 500 undertaken by Ministers for 2008-09 was published on 16 July and can be viewed at:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/propriety_and_ethics/ministers/travel_gifts.aspx
	Travel by Ministers and civil servants is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code and the Civil Servant Management Code respectively. All spending on official entertainment is made in accordance with the principles set out in Managing Public Money.

Disadvantaged

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the purpose of the Adults Facing Chronic Exclusion pilot is; how much funding under the pilot has been  (a) distributed to and  (b) spent by each local authority in each year since the pilot began; and how much such funding he expects to be (i) distributed and (ii) spent in the next two years.

Shahid Malik: The ACE Programme is a three-year, 6 million fund designed to test new approaches to tacking chronic social exclusion among the most marginalised people in society.
	12 pilot projects have been directly funded across England. They are testing out ways to improve outcomes for adults with chaotic lives and multiple needs through developing new types of intervention and changing local service provision. They are led by voluntary organisations, working in partnership with other local agencies.
	The funding breakdown is as follows:
	
		
			  Funding () 
			  Pilot location  Pilot organisation  September 2007-08  2008-09  2009-10  2010-11  Total 
			 Newcastle Tyneside Cyrenians 107,061 189,673 0 0 296,734 
			 Luton NOAH 87,194 189,478 102,280 0 378,952 
			 Lambeth and Southwark Thamesreach 110,379 222,390 225,654 113,642 672,065 
			 Islington Forensic Therapies 87,500 175,000 175,000 87,500 525,000 
			 Merton South West London 94,500 189,000 189,000 94,500 567,000 
			 Lambeth St. Mungo's 81,898 177,808 208,395 112,483 580,584 
			 Chatham, Kent MCCH 88,667 159,833 159,833 82,667 491,000 
			 Bolton Turning Point 92,915 214,214 147,846 0 454,975 
			 Milton Keynes RDA Milton Keynes 89,000 178,000 178,000 89,000 534,000 
			 Halifax Calderdale Women's Centre 96,276 177,659 196,936 95,434 566,305 
			 Manchester and Durham After Adoption 52,874 85,308 90,603 38,594 267,379 
			 Bristol Fairbridge 60,000 112,745 112,954 55,372 341,071 
			  Total 1,048,264 2,071,108 1,786,501 769,192 5,675,065

Disadvantaged

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of progress made under the Adults Facing Chronic Exclusion pilot to date; to what areas of expenditure funding under the pilot is available; what estimate he has made of the number of people supported under the pilot in each year since its establishment; and what forecast he has made of the equivalent number in each of the next two years.

Shahid Malik: Assessment of the progress made by the Adults facing Chronic Exclusion Pilots is being measured through the ACE national evaluation, which is being undertaken by Matrix Consultants. The evaluation aims to assess the project process, its impact on outcomes for both service users and services, and the cost effectiveness of the interventions.
	The ACE programme is spent on services which achieve one or more of the following:
	Simplifying the complexities associated with several statutory services working collaboratively (Housing, benefits, health and criminal justice system) to offer co-ordinated support to someone with multiple needs.
	Offering practical help to people to access several social services at one time
	Helping people to negotiate difficult times in their lives such as leaving prison, leaving care and fleeing domestic violence
	The pilots work with approximately 1,000 people per year.

Entry Clearances

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average time taken by the UK Border Agency was from the receipt of an application from a European national for permanent residence to the determination of a case in the latest period for which figures are available.

Phil Woolas: In the current operational year to date the average time taken to determine an application for permanent residence submitted by a European National is 7.3 months from the date of receipt.

Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been convicted of offences under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000; if he will commission research into the efficacy of the legislation; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: Information showing the number of persons found guilty at all courts for offences under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 ('RIPA') in England and Wales from 2000 to 2007 is shown as follows:
	
		
			  Persons found guilty at all courts of offences under RIPA in England and Wales 
			  Offence  Statute  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Unlawful interception of a postal, public or private telecommunications system Sections 1(1), (2), (7)   1 3 4 1   
			 Failure to give effect to an interception warrant Sections 11(4), (7) 1
			 Unlawful disclosure of details of interception warrant Sections 19(4)1 
			 Failure to disclose key to protected information Section 53 
			 Disclose details of a S49 notice Section 541 
			 Total1 3 5 1  2 
		
	
	These are from the official Ministry of Justice statistics. Figures for 2008 are due to be published at the end of January 2010. The encryption provisions of RIPA came into force on 1 October 2007 and these figures are therefore not yet reflected in the table. Some information is available in the Chief Surveillance Commissioner's report for 2008-09 which shows there were two s53 convictions for failing to disclose the key to protected information.
	The Government are satisfied that offences set in RIPA are appropriate and that the legislation is being used effectively.

Afghanistan

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what visits each of the Ministers in his Department has made to Afghanistan in each of the last 12 months.

Bob Ainsworth: The dates of both my and my predecessors' visits to Afghanistan in the last 12 months, and those of Ministers in my Department are detailed as follows. The Minister for International Defence and Security and Minister for Strategic Defence Acquisition Reform have not visited Afghanistan in the last 12 months.
	 Secretary of State for DefenceJohn Hutton
	18 to 23 October 2008: Iraq and Afghanistan
	18 to 21 January 2009: Afghanistan and Pakistan
	 S ecretary of State for Defence Bob Ainsworth
	26 to 30 June 2009: Afghanistan
	2 to 7 October 2009: Afghanistan and Pakistan
	 Minister for Veterans
	4 to 8 February 2009: Afghanistan
	 Minister for Defence Equipment and Support
	5 to 8 January 2009: Afghanistan
	10 to 12 August 2009: Afghanistan
	 Minister for the Armed Forces
	21 to 24 December 2008: Afghanistan
	26 to 30 July 2009: Afghanistan.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK armed forces' rounds of ammunition of each type have been  (a) lost and  (b) stolen in Afghanistan in each month since 2001.

Bob Ainsworth: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Cadets

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much will be spent on pay for adult instructors in the Cadet Force in the next six months.

Kevan Jones: Details of the remaining budget for 2009-10 paid days training (PDT) for adult instructors in each of the three services cadet forces and their respective combined cadet forces (CCF), are provided in the following table.
	
		
			  Cadet force and CCF  Remaining PDT budget ( million) 
			 Army Cadet Force and CCF (Army) 1.3 
			 Air Cadet Organisation and CCF (RAF) 2.0 
			 Navy Command Cadets 0.36

Armed Forces: Foreigners

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many citizens from  (a) British Overseas Territories and  (b) Crown Dependencies are serving in the British armed forces.

Kevan Jones: As at 1 September 2009, the number of UK regular armed forces personnel from British overseas territories was 390. This figure includes 40 people who recorded their nationality on the joint personnel administration (JPA) system as 'British Hong Kong'.
	Since the introduction of JPA, we cannot identify those from Crown dependencies.
	Due to ongoing validation of data from the JPA system, these statistics are provisional and subject to review.

Departmental Information Officers

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many press officers his Department has.

Kevan Jones: Currently, there are 110 Press Officers employed across the Ministry of Defence (as recorded in the Central Office of Information's White Book). This includes civilian and military staff across the Department (including within single services) and is defined as those who directly interface with national or regional media on news issues, and in direct support of operations.

Departmental Pay

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of his Department's staff received annual remuneration, including benefits, of 100,000 or more in the last year for which figures are available.

Kevan Jones: For financial year 2008-09 the MOD had 95 employees, of these, three have left MOD employment, whose gross earnings paid through payroll for the year exceeded 100,000.

Military Attachs

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to which UK embassies in the Middle East a defence attach is deployed.

Kevan Jones: There is a defence attach deployed to the following UK embassies in the middle east:
	Bahrain
	Iraq
	Kuwait
	Oman
	Qatar
	Saudi Arabia
	United Arab Emirates
	Yemen.

Employment and Support Allowance: Appeals

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how long on average it has taken for appeals against refusal of employment and support allowance to be heard in the last 12 months.

Bridget Prentice: The first tier tribunalsocial security and child support target is to bring 75 per cent. of appeals to hearing within 14-weeks of receipt. It has taken an average of 10.22 weeks for appeals against the refusal of employment and support allowance to be heard during the period 1 October 2008 and 30 September 2009. This time is calculated from receipt of the appeal by the Tribunals Service to hearing by the first tier tribunalsocial security and child support. The Tribunals Service is unable to provide information on the length of time between the appeal being lodged with the Department for Work and Pensions and it being submitted to the Tribunals Service.

Homicide

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many people have pleaded guilty to a charge of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many people who had pleaded guilty to a charge of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility were being held in secure accommodation at each location on the latest date for which figures are available.

Claire Ward: The number of persons who pleaded guilty at the Crown court and were sentenced for manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, in England and Wales, from 2003 to 2007 (latest available) is shown in the following table. These figures include offenders who were given an unrestricted hospital order, a restricted hospital order or an immediate custodial sentence.
	The statistics given relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. For example, when a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
	Data for 2008 are planned for publication at the end of January 2010.
	
		
			  Persons who pleaded guilty and sentenced at the Crown court for manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, England and Wales, 2003 to 2007( 1, 2) 
			  Offence: Manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility 
			  Statute: Homicide Act 1957, section 2 
			 Sentence breakdown 
			   Pleaded guilty  Total sentenced  Unrestricted hospital order( 3)  Restricted hospital order( 4)  Immediate custody  Otherwise dealt with 
			 2003 19 19 9 1 9  
			 2004 19 19 4 4 8 3 
			 2005 19 19 3 6 8 2 
			 2006 10 10  7 2 1 
			 2007 19 19 1 12 6  
			 (1) The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.  (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  (3) Unrestricted hospital order, under the Mental Health Act 1983, section 37(1).  (4) Restricted hospital order, under Mental health Act 1983, section 41.   Source:  Evidence and Analysis UnitOffice for Criminal Justice Reform.

Legal Aid: Eligibility

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what criteria are used to determine eligibility for legal aid.

Bridget Prentice: There are different eligibility criteria for civil and criminal legal aid:
	Eligibility for legal aid in civil matters depends on the client satisfying the relevant financial eligibility criteria, and the case must pass a merits test and be within the scope of the scheme. Those in receipt of income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance, guarantee state pension credit or income related employment support allowance automatically qualify financially for legal aid. Otherwise, they can obtain 'free' or non-contributory assistance, if they have a gross monthly income of less than 2,657, a monthly disposable income below 315 and disposable capital of 3,000 or less. If their monthly disposable income is between 316 and 733, or disposable capital between 3,000 and 8,000, they will be offered funding on the basis that they agree to pay contributions towards their legal costs. On 6 April 2009 we increased the financial eligibility limits for civil legal aid by 5 per cent. to their current level.
	The merits test considers whether legal aid applicants have reasonable grounds for taking, defending or being a party to proceedings, and that it is reasonable, in the particular circumstances of the case, for legal aid to be granted.
	Eligibility for legal aid in criminal trials depends on the defendant satisfying the 'Interests of Justice' test and the relevant financial eligibility criteria. Suspects being held at the police station as part of a criminal investigation are automatically entitled to legal advice, regardless of income; this may be provided on a 'face to face' basis under the police station duty solicitor scheme, or for less serious offences, via a national telephone helpline.
	The income-based means test for defendants appearing before the magistrates court weights the applicant's gross annual income to reflect their family and household circumstances. If an applicant's weighted gross annual income exceeds 22,325, they are financially ineligible for a grant of representation; if it is 12,475 or less, they are financially eligible for a grant of representation. All applicants in receipt of income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance, or the guaranteed state pension credit are automatically deemed financially eligible, as are applicants under the age of 18.
	For those applicants whose adjusted gross annual incomes fall between the two thresholds, a more detailed assessment of their income is carried out. After certain deductions are made, if the applicant's disposable income does not exceed 3,398, they will be financially eligible under the new scheme.

Offenders: Mental Health

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate his Department has made of the number of offenders subject to a custodial sentence who have previously been given a conditional discharge; and what proportion of those offenders have been diagnosed with mental health problems.

Claire Ward: Out of 94,600 sentences of immediate custody in England and Wales in 2007, the latest year for which figure are available, 52,200 offenders (55 per cent.) had on at least one previous sentencing occasion received a conditional discharge. Information about the mental health of these offenders is not available.
	These figures have been drawn from the police's administrative IT system, the police national computer (PNC), which, as with any large scale recording system, is subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. The figures are provisional and subject to change as more information is recorded by the police.
	The figures represent a further breakdown of the criminal history statistics published in chapter 6 of Sentencing Statistics 2007 which can be found at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/sentencingannual.htm

Developing Countries: Debt

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent steps he has taken to help developing countries to reduce their debt.

Gareth Thomas: The UK Government have taken a strong lead on debt relief and are carefully monitoring the effect of the current financial crisis on debt levels of the poorest countries. Recent steps taken include:
	Support to the World Bank and IMF's review of the Debt Sustainability Framework. This is the main instrument for monitoring debt levels and guiding new borrowing and lending, and is used by the Multilateral Development Banks to determine assistance to the poorest countries.
	A call from the Chancellor at this year's IMF spring meetings for a temporary reduction in interest rates to zero for the IMF's concessional lending to low-income countries. This was agreed and will apply until December 2011.
	Many countries are better off today because of international initiatives to reduce debt, in which the UK has played a lead role. Under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) and the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiatives, $117 billion (approx 74 billion) of debt relief has been agreed since 2000. 35 out of 40 eligible countries are now receiving debt relief under HIPC, and this year Burundi, Central African Republic and Haiti all completed the process and received irrevocable debt cancellation.

Global Environment Facility: Finance

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much funding the Government have contributed to the Global Environment Facility in each of the last 10 years.

Gareth Thomas: The UK is currently contributing towards the fourth replenishment period of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Trust Fund. Our contributions are 35 million each year, totalling 140 million across the four years 2007-10.
	Previously, the UK contributed a total of 118 million to the third replenishment period of the GEF Trust Fund, averaging 29.5 million in each of the four years 2003-06. We contributed 85 million towards the second replenishment of the GEF Trust Fund across the four years 1999-02, averaging 21.25 million each year.

Overseas Territories: Climate Change

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the outcomes of the participation of the UK Overseas Territories in the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre's Enhancing Capacity for Adaptation to Climate Change project.

Michael Foster: The Project Enhancing Capacity for Adaptation to Climate Change is ongoing. Monitoring reports show progress is being made against each of the objectivesestablishing climate change focal points and committees, building capacity, developing public education and outreach programmes, developing national strategies, and sharing information.
	Department for International Development officials participated in two of the project's workshops and reported that the project team were well qualified and experienced, there was strong stakeholder engagement, and a high level of awareness of climate change impacts among Government, non-government, business, and other organisations.
	Additional feedback from the territories indicates that they welcome the opportunity to participate in this programme. They acknowledge it is ambitious, but remain committed to delivering the objectives.

Overseas Territories: Nature Conservation

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what outcomes were reached at the conservation conference hosted by the United Kingdom Overseas Territories Conservation Forum held in June.

Michael Foster: The aim of the conference was to bring together representatives from Government, non-government organisations, academic, and other organisations working in the UK overseas territories and other small islands to promote co-operation and sharing of information and experiences on solving environmental problems. This will help meet obligations under international environment agreements and UK/Overseas Territories Environment Charters.
	My hon. Friend. the Minister for Marine and Natural Environment, spoke at the conference and announced an additional 1.5 million over the next three years for biodiversity projects in the overseas territories.
	The UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum will submit a final report on the conference shortly.

Pakistan: Internally Displaced Persons

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance his Department has provided to those who were displaced from and are returning to the Swat district of Pakistan.

Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) has so far provided 22 million for people displaced by the conflict in the North West Frontier Province and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. These funds are being used by humanitarian agencies to meet critical needs of people displaced in camps and host communities. This support is providing vital assistance to those who have started to return home through the provision of shelter, protection, water, sanitation, food and medical assistance. The UK is also providing funding through the UN's Central Emergency Response Fund and the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid Office.
	On 14 October the Prime Minister announced a further UK contribution of 10 million for early recovery programmes to help vulnerable communities affected by the conflict to start rebuilding their lives and to support them through the coming winter.

Vietnam: Overseas Aid

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid his Department plans to send to victims of the recent flooding in Vietnam.

Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) is contributing to relief funding by the European Commission (16 per cent. of this is attributed to DFID). The European Commission has allocated 2 million for Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. In Vietnam, the funding is being used to support relief efforts by non-governmental organisations in the affected areas.
	DFID is also supporting strategic programmes aimed at disaster risk reduction in Vietnam. This is implemented through support to the United Nations in Vietnam as well as the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery with the World Bank.

Iran's Nuclear Programme

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his most recent assessment is of the development of Iran's nuclear programme; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: We remain extremely concerned about Iran's nuclear programme. In August the (IAEA) Director General reported that Iran had not suspended its enrichment activities contrary to the requirements of five UNSCRs and still refuses to answer questions about studies with a possible military dimension.
	The fact that Iran has been covertly developing an enrichment facility near Qom, in breach of UN and IAEA obligations, casts further doubt on their peaceful intentions.

Gaza

Andrew Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure early consideration by the United Nations of the report of the United Nations fact finding mission on the Gaza conflict.

Ivan Lewis: The report of the UN Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza conflict has already been considered by the UN. It was discussed in an open meeting of the Security Council on 14 October 2009 and by a Special Session of the Human Rights Council on 15 and 16 October 2009. As we made clear in those discussions, while we have concerns about aspects of the report, there are serious issues remaining about both parties' conduct during Operation Cast Lead.

Non-proliferation Treaty

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his US counterpart on the 2010 non-proliferation treaty review conference.

Ivan Lewis: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discusses the 2010 NPT Review Conference regularly with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Mrs. Clinton said on 11 October 2009 after their most recent meeting that British leadership had been pivotal in the run up to the historic Security Council session on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament chaired by President Barack Obama on 24 September 2009.

Macedonia

Eric Martlew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government are providing support to the Government of Macedonia in their application for membership of the European Union.

Chris Bryant: The UK strongly supports Macedonia's EU membership aspirations and welcomes the Commission's recent recommendation to open accession negotiations.
	The Government co-operate with EU partners to encourage the required reforms in Macedonia. Alongside its contribution to financing programmes under the EU's Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA), the Government are providing bilateral support in 2009-10 of around 890,000.
	UK projects include work designed to improve Macedonia's public administrative capacity, strengthen its Parliament, and help fight corruption.

Bahrain

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his latest assessment is of the state of relations between the UK and the Government of Bahrain.

Ivan Lewis: The UK has a long standing and strong relationship with Bahrain. But we are always considering ways in which we can make even stronger our political, defence, cultural and trade relations to mutual benefit.

Children: Kidnapping

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to encourage the Government of Japan to sign the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: I welcomed the Japanese Government's announcement last year that it was considering ratifying the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. We have made frequent representations to the Japanese Government on the issue.
	On 16 October 2009 our ambassador took part with representatives of a number of other embassies in a joint demarche on Japanese Justice Minister Chiba, calling on Japan to accede to the Convention. My Rt. hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary encouraged Japan to sign the Convention when he met the Japanese Foreign Secretary Okada on 22 September 2009. My Noble Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Lord Mandelson also raised this issue with the Japanese Prime Minister on 5 October 2009. Our embassy in Tokyo has been regularly taking joint action together with other embassies, including the Canadian, French, US and Italian embassies.

Cyprus

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications for progress towards a settlement in Cyprus of the policy of the new PASOK government in Greece on such a settlement; and if he will make a statement. [R]

Chris Bryant: We believe that the new Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) Government in Greece will be supportive of the two leaders' efforts to achieve a settlement. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed Cyprus with Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou on 15 October 2009 and both reiterated their support for the settlement process.

Cyprus

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what grants the UK has given to the UN missing persons committee in Cyprus since its inception; if he will make an assessment of the merits of providing a further grant to support that committee's work; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Bryant: The UK has donated a total of $159,298 to the UN committee on missing persons since its inception. In August 2009, the European Commission (EC) allocated 2 million in funding to the committee from the EC Aid Regulation for the economic development of the Turkish Cypriot community. This will provide for half of the yearly needs of the committee for missing persons for the next 24 months. The Government have no plans for further donations.

Cyprus

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make an estimate of the value of the cessation of the division in Cyprus in terms of  (a) gross domestic product for the island and  (b) income per capita; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Bryant: The Government have funded independent research by the International Peace Research Institute of Oslo (PRIO) into the economic benefits of a solution. Their report, The Day After, found that Cypriots stand to gain an additional 1.8 billion per year in recurring benefits from a solution to the Cyprus problem. This translates into approximately 5,500 for every family every year. These were deliberately conservative estimates.

Northern Cyprus

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his latest estimate is of the total compensation paid by the Immovable Property Commission in northern Cyprus; and if he will make a statement. [R]

Chris Bryant: According to recent figures, the Immovable Property Commission has over the past three years paid close to 35 million in compensation.

Northern Cyprus

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in the disbursement of the 259 million euro package of EU assistance to Northern Cyprus; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Bryant: By the end of September 2009, the Commission had contracted 133.9 million (52 per cent. of the overall programme) and endorsed 45.5 million for payment (18 per cent. of the programme). Tangible projects such as providing modern equipment to farmers, funding scholarships for students, improving traffic safety and replacing asbestos water pipes have already started and are making a real difference to the lives of ordinary Turkish Cypriots.

Turkey: Varnava

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's policy of the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights Grand Chamber in the case of Varnava and others v. Turkey; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Bryant: The Government have made no such assessment but will continue to call on both sides to release all information in relation to the tragic case of the missing in Cyprus, and will also continue to support the good work of the UN Committee for Missing Persons.

Council Housing: Finance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much has been received gross in council tax receipts in  (a) cash and  (b) real terms by each local authority in England in each year since 1997-98.

Barbara Follett: A table will be placed in the Library of the House containing details of the gross council tax receipts collected by each local authority in England in each year since 1998 -99 in both cash and real terms.
	The data are taken from the Quarterly Return of Council Tax and Non-domestic rates returns completed annually by all billing authorities in England and the real terms data are given at 2008-09 prices.

Council Housing: Sutton

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he expects to respond to the points raised by the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam during the summer recess adjournment debate on 21 July 2009,  Official Report, columns 837-38; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Austin: On 17 July, the Secretary of State announced as part of the Housing Pledge that over this year and next Government will be investing a further 1.5 billion to build an extra 20,000 new affordable homes for rent and low cost sale.
	As a consequence, 150 million has been reprioritised from the Decent Homes programme in 2010-11, to fund the Pledge initiative to contribute to the building of these new homes. That means the Government are spending more on housing this year.

Council Tax

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many properties in each local authority district are in council tax band  (a) A and  (b) B.

Barbara Follett: A table has been placed in the Library of the House giving details of the number of properties in each billing authority in England that are in council tax Band A and Band B.
	The data are as at 29 March 2009 and are supplied to Communities and Local Government by the Valuation Office Agency.
	The data are also available on the Communities and Local Government website at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/localgovernment/localregional/localgovernmentfinance/statistics/counciltax/dwellingsvaluationlist/

Council Tax: Valuation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many dwellings have had their property attributes updated by the Valuation Office Agency as a result of data obtained from the Rightmove portal in the last year for which figures are available.

Barbara Follett: A total of 64,014 dwellings have had their property attributes updated by the Valuation Office Agency as a result of data obtained from the Rightmove portal during the period 16 October 2008 to 30 September 2009.
	Rightmove data is used routinely by VOA staff in the course of considering approximately 30,000 proposals/appeals and over 450,000 cases annually in respect of maintaining current council tax valuation lists. This provides quality assurance to ensure information about properties is correct and, ultimately, that taxpayers are asked to pay the right amount of tax. Rightmove also alleviates the need to inspect substantial numbers of properties thus minimising inconvenience to taxpayers. The use of Rightmove data more often than not results in no change to property attribute data.

Council Tax: Valuation

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many properties in Forest of Dean district are recorded with each individual  (a) dwellinghouse code and  (b) value significant code, including each code for (i) type, (ii) number of rooms, (iii) number of bedrooms, (iv) number of bathrooms, (v) number of floors, (vi) floor level, (vii) parking, (viii) garaging, (ix) conservatory type, (x) age, (xi) outbuilding and (xii) modernisation, according to electronic records held by the Valuation Office Agency.

Barbara Follett: The number of properties with each individual dwellinghouse code and each value significant code, for all local authority areas in England, will be placed in the Library of the House.

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Meriden of 16 July 2009,  Official Report, column 656W, on Tony Clements, whether Mr Clements was a candidate selected to stand by a political party at a general election on the date of his appointment, 29 June 2009.

Barbara Follett: Mr. Clements was not a parliamentary candidate on the date of his appointment.

Departmental Rail Travel

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department and its predecessors spent on first class rail travel for officials in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Barbara Follett: The information requested is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Financial year  First class rail  () 
			 2007-08 406.232 
			 2008-09 419.249 
			 2009-10 (to date September) 142,473 
		
	
	The figures shown in the table came from the Department's travel suppliers but it should be noted that staff may also purchase rail tickets directly from stations or through other suppliers. Identifying first class rail travel expenditure from these sources could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Eco-towns

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department has spent on the eco-town programme since its inception.

John Healey: The Department's spend for developing the Eco-towns Programme, including communications-related activity form part of the Department's running costs which are set out in the departmental annual report 2009.

Fire Engines: Sales

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which Minister took the decision to dispose of the green goddess fire engines used to provide emergency fire cover.

Shahid Malik: The decision to dispose of the Green Goddess fleet was taken by the Government. Green Goddesses no longer offered the most flexible and efficient means of delivering emergency fire cover. In addition the Department provided 46 high volume pumps to the fire and rescue service which removed the need for a reserve pumping capacity. The National Framework for the fire and rescue service makes it clear that fire and rescue authorities are responsible for the supply of all necessary vehicles and equipment.

Home Information Packs

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment has been made of the effect of increasing the personal search fee for the local land charges register on the cost of a home information pack.

Bridget Prentice: I have been asked to reply.
	The Ministry of Justice carried out an assessment of the effect of increasing the personal search fee for the local land charges registersee the impact assessment in the post-consultation report Local Authority Property Search Services published by the Ministry of Justice on 16 September 2009. This stated that the increased cost was likely to be passed on by personal search companies to their customers. If this happens it may lead to an increase in the cost of home information packs in England. However, this is a matter for the market and the Government have no role in this. Copies of the report are already available in the House Library.

Housing: Construction

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local planning authorities responded to the Government's review on the extent and impact of housing development on garden land; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each such response.

Ian Austin: There were 127 detailed responses from local planning authorities to stage 1 of the Review of Evidence. I will make a further announcement before Parliament and my Department will publish the findings of the review together with the evidence shortly. These will all be placed in the Library of the House.

Housing: Databases

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what role Ordnance Survey has in the geo-referencing of the property database held by the Valuation Office Agency.

Ian Austin: Ordnance Survey and the Valuation Office Agency have been working together to align their spatial address databases. Through the Pan Government Agreement, Valuation Office Agency currently receives the Ordnance Survey's ADDRESS-POINT product. It will shortly receive Ordnance Survey's latest spatial addressing product OS MasterMap Address Layer 2.

Housing: Public Consultation

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding his Department has allocated to tenant participation in local housing authorities in each of the last three years.

Ian Austin: The Tenant Empowerment Programme supports tenants living in social housing to access information and training as well as enabling tenant groups to explore and undertake management of their homes. Grant is not paid directly to local authorities but rather to national, regional, and local tenant organisations and training providers working across all social housing providers.
	Grant allocations for TEP were:
	2007-08: 2.6 million
	2008-09: 3.14 million
	2009-10: 3.14 million.

Housing: Regeneration

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the timetable is for the review of the allocations to Housing Market Renewal Pathfinders; and what funding has been allocated to date in each year in each Pathfinder during the current Comprehensive Spending Review period.

John Healey: Funding allocations for HMR pathfinders during the current CSR period are given in the following table. The 2009-10 figures include 311 million allocated in March 2009 and a further 35 million which I announced in July 2009 and which was based on strong progress. Figures for 2010-11 are indicative.
	
		
			   million 
			  HMR pathfinder  2008-09  2009-10  2010-11( 1) 
			 Birmingham Sandwell 25 19 11 
			 East Lancashire 52 50 48 
			 Hull and East Riding 30 29 28 
			 Manchester Salford 52 46 42 
			 Merseyside 54 51 47 
			 Newcastle Gateshead 34 32 29 
			 North Staffordshire 40 38 36 
			 Oldham Rochdale 32 30 28 
			 South Yorkshire 46 38 31 
			 Tees Valley 13 11 10 
			 West Cumbria 3 2 1 
			 Total 381 346 311 
			 (1) Indicative allocation.

Local Authority Business Growth Incentives Scheme

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what reason the Local Authority Business Growth Incentive funding scheme funding has been reduced to 50 million for 2010-11; and whether the funds previously allocated to the programme are to be transferred to another programme.

Barbara Follett: LABGI funding for 2010-11 was reduced from 100 million to 50 million as part of a review of Government spending priorities in early 2009 in light of the economic downturn.

Local Government Finance

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will place in the Library a copy of the underlying wage data (the ASHE Dataset) used as the basis of the calculation for the area cost adjustment for the most recent three years.

Barbara Follett: Information contained in the ASHE data is collected by ONS under the Statistics of Trade Act (1947), and is regarded as confidential. It is therefore not possible to make the ASHE dataset available in the Library of the House.

Local Government: Publicity

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which  (a) individuals and  (b) organisations responded to his Department's consultation on the Code of Conduct on Local Authority Publicity.

Rosie Winterton: I have arranged for a list of the over 300 people and organisations who responded to the consultation on the code of recommended practice on local authority publicity to be placed in the Library of the House. We intend to publish a summary of consultees' comments by the end of the year.

Muslim Council of Britain

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on what dates Ministers in his Department have met representatives of the Muslim Council of Britain in the last 12 months.

Shahid Malik: The former Communities Minister chaired a meeting of the Faith Communities Consultative Council on 11 November 2008 which was attended by a representative of the Muslim Council of Britain. My hon. Friend also held meetings with the Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board (MINAB) Steering Group on 2 December 2008, 15 January 2009, 4 March, and 22 April 2009 which were attended by representatives of the Muslim Council of Britain. In addition my hon. Friend met representatives from the Muslim Council of Britain in a separate meeting on 2 December 2008.
	The former Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and the former Communities Minister attended a meeting hosted by the Prime Minister on 25 November 2008 at which representatives of the Muslim Council of Britain were present.

National Housing and Planning Advice Unit

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what research projects the National Housing and Planning Advice Unit is carrying out; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Austin: Part of the National Housing and Planning Advice Unit's remit is to commission research in support of building an evidence base to advise Government and other stakeholders on the implications of housing supply on affordability. Since its launch it has developed and delivered a focused research programme exploring specific aspects of the housing supply and affordability problem from an independent perspective, with the aim of engaging stakeholders and informing the development of housing supply policy and practice. This programme of research activity is ongoing, and the unit is currently carrying out the following projects:
	1. The Geography of Housing Market Areas in England: Implications for Analysis, Modelling and Policy.
	2. Developing sub-regional or cross regional models of housing markets supply and affordability in Englandproposal for feasibility studies.
	3. The effect of supply constraints on housing costs.
	4. An empirical investigation of planning delay and its impact on housing supply.
	5. The Implications of Housing Type, Size, Mix and Density.
	6. Mortgage possessions in the UK: a regional and national analysis.
	7. The need for market and affordable housing.
	8. House Prices and Cohort Home Ownership.
	9. A review of European Planning Systems.

National Housing and Planning Advice Unit: Pay

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much the National Housing and Planning Advice unit spent on staff costs in each of the last three years.

Ian Austin: The National Housing and Planning Advice Unit was first set up in October 2006, had a fully operational team by March 2007 and was officially launched in June 2007. It is a small team of civil servants (there are currently 13 staff in post) whose work is shaped and steered by an expert board. The unit's remit is national, and its prime objective is to develop a strong and reliable evidence base on which to provide independent advice to Government and other stakeholders about the impact of planning proposals on affordability. In supporting this objective, it has provided comprehensive advice on housing supply numbers to be tested in the planning process, developed and delivered a focused research programme, and delivered affordability training events for stakeholders, with the aim of raising awareness of the affordability problem.
	The unit spent the following on staff costs(1) in each of the last three years.
	(1) Staff costs are salaries of permanent staff, including pension and national insurance contributions. They do not include board fees, or salary costs of temporary staff.
	
		
			
			 October 2006 to March 2007 (1)68,490 
			 April 2007 to March 2008 578,968 
			 April 2008 to March 2009 606,212 
			 April 2009 to Current(2) 330,688 
			 (1) This amount accounts for the six-month set-up period for the unit. For the first five months of this period, the unit had only one member of staffit's chief executive, who was setting up the unit during this period, with other staff members joining the unit during February and March 2007. The 68,490 quoted applies therefore to only 1.42 full-time equivalent staff years. For the following years, the salary costs quoted relate to the full team (which equates to 12-13 staff years). (2) To end of September 2009.

Non-Domestic Rates

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the value was of unpaid business rates  (a) uncollected and  (b) written off in each of the last five years in England.

Barbara Follett: The amount of business rates, in  million, not collected within the year to which it relates for 2004-05 to 2008-09 is given in the following table.
	
		
			   million 
			 2004-05 261 
			 2005-06 269 
			 2006-07 229 
			 2007-08 215 
			 2008-09 423 
		
	
	Collection of non-domestic rates continues after the year to which it relates has ended so the final amount not collected for the year will be lower than that shown in the table.
	This information is available in Table 3 of the statistical releases Collection Rates for Council Tax and Non-domestic Rates in England that are available on the Communities and Local Government website at
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/localgovernment/localregional/localgovernmentfinance/statistics/counciltax/collectionrates/
	Estimates of the amount of business rates (in  million) written off each year in the period 2003-04 to 2007-08 are given in the following table.
	
		
			   million 
			 2003-04 818 
			 2004-05 779 
			 2005-06 714 
			 2006-07 579 
			 2007-08 759 
		
	
	Data for 2008-09 will not be available until spring 2010.
	This information is published annually in Table 2.3k of Local Government Financial Statistics England No 19 2009 that is available on the Communities and Local Government website at
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/localgovernment/localgovernmentfinance/localgovernmentfinance/statistics
	The data are taken from the Quarterly Return on Collection of Council Tax and Non-domestic Rates return (QRC4) and the national non-domestic rates return (NNDR3) that are completed annually by all billing authorities in England.

Non-Domestic Rates

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many firms eligible for small business rate relief were not claiming it on the latest date for which figures are available.

Barbara Follett: Data is not currently available on the number of businesses eligible for Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR). We asked local authorities to estimate the numbers of businesses that were eligible for SBRR in the annual national non-domestic rate return. We are examining this data to assess its quality before making a decision about whether it is are suitable for publication. Meanwhile, we are working to see if we can establish an estimate of the number of businesses eligible for SBRR using previous research in this area and so assess the level of take-up.
	The number of properties reported by local authorities as claiming SBRR as at December 31 2006 was 392,000. Local authorities also reported that they had granted 997 million in SBRR between April 1 2005 and March 31 2009. They expect to grant a further 306 million in 2009-10.

Non-Domestic Rates: Greater London

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 10 January 2008,  Official Report, columns 767-68W, on the Crossrail line: finance, what information his Department holds on the likely  (a) start date and  (b) end date of the supplementary business rate in London.

Barbara Follett: The Department's understanding is that the Mayor of London intends  (a) to start levying a BRS to support the funding of the Crossrail project from April 2010 and that  (b) dependent on the future conditions of the financial markets which will facilitate the borrowing that the BRS will support, that the London Crossrail BRS will run for between 24 and 30 years.
	The Mayor of London's plans are set out in his Crossrail BRS prospectus, published on July 30 2009 for consultation. The Business Rate Supplements Act 2009 requires that any revision to the prospectus would have to be consulted on.

Playing Fields: Planning Permission

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what planning guidance has been produced by his Department on using  (a) green belt,  (b) countryside and  (c) open space for use as playing fields in the last three years.

Ian Austin: Planning guidance on playing fields is contained in Planning Policy Guidance note 17Planning for Open Space, Sport and Recreation, which was published in 2002. No new planning guidance on playing fields has been issued since then.

Travelling People: Caravan Sites

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what level of grant aid was provided to each local authority for improving Gypsy and Traveller sites in each of the last five years; and what the relevant outturn expenditure was by each authority in each year.

Shahid Malik: Grant for refurbishing existing and building new Gypsy and Traveller sites was paid through the Gypsy Site Refurbishment Grant up to and including financial year 2005-06 and since 2006-07 has been paid through the Gypsy and Traveller Site Grant.
	The level of grant paid to each local authority by the Department for Communities and Local Government in financial years 2005-06 to 2008-09 has been placed in the Library of the House. The Department does not hold records of the outturn expenditure by local authorities following these grant awards in financial years 2005-06 to 2008-09.
	The Homes and Communities Agency is responsible for paying the Gypsy and Traveller Site Grant in the current financial year 2009-10. The agency has received bids for grant funding, but no payments have yet been made to local authorities.

Travelling People: Caravan Sites

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the spending of grants provided to local authorities to improve Gypsy and Traveller sites in the last three years.

Shahid Malik: The Department has not carried out any formal review of effectiveness of the Gypsy and Traveller site grant in the last three years From 2006-07 The process through which successful schemes were recommended was changed. Gypsy and Traveller site grant from this point formed part of the regional housing pot, with recommendations for successful schemes being made by Regional Assemblies. This helped to ensure that local knowledge about the ability of authorities to deliver schemes of this nature was better taken into account.
	Bids were assessed, in a competitive process, against published bidding guidance centrally and analysed by independent consultants to assist Regional Assemblies in assessing schemes. The evaluation assessed bids against the following key criteria:
	Does the scheme meet a clearly assessed need
	Does the scheme offer value for money
	Is the site sustainable
	Can the scheme be delivered to time and to budget
	Since April 2009, administration of the Gypsy and Traveller site grant has transferred to the Homes and Communities Agency who will be paying grant under their own new powers and monitoring regime.

Valuation Office: ICT

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of the Valuation Office Agency's domestic property attribute data has been digitised; what the targets for full digitisation are; and what the total cost of the digitisation project is.

Barbara Follett: All of the Valuation Office Agency's (VOA) domestic property attribute data is digitised.
	For the cost for digitising the VOAs property attribute data, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 9 January 2006,  Official Report, column 268W.

Departmental Advertising

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department spent on newspaper advertising carried in each newspaper in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Diana Johnson: Expenditure on newspaper advertising by the Department for Children, Schools and Families for the period April 2008 to March 2009 is outlined in the following table.
	
		
			  DCSF: 2008/09 
			  Publication  Expenditure () 
			  Daily Express 104,980 
			  Daily Mail 312,327 
			  Daily Mirror 141,500 
			  Daily Star 37,480 
			  Daily Star on Sunday 6,950 
			  Daily Telegraph 113,148 
			  Financial Times 25,000 
			  News of the World 120,901 
			  Sunday Express 46,495 
			  Sunday Mirror 75,036 
			  Sunday Telegraph 68,430 
			  The Guardian 69,656 
			  The Independent 24,630 
			  The Independent on Sunday 12,850 
			  The Mail on Sunday 100,650 
			  The Observer 32,600 
			  The Sun 299,550 
			  The Sunday Times 218,400 
			  The Times 94,600 
			 Total 1,905,183

Departmental Consultants

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his latest estimate is of expenditure by his Department and its predecessor on all forms of consultancy for each  (a) year and  (b) quarter from 31 March 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Diana Johnson: Figures for the former Department for Education and Skills show that it spent the following sums from administration costs (the Department's internal running costs) on consultancy from 1997.
	
		
			million 
			 1997-98 3.9 
			 1998-99 5.0 
			 1999-2000 3.7 
			 2000-01 4.3 
			 2001-02 5.0 
			 2002-03 4.0 
			 2003-04 4.7 
			 2004-05 3.9 
		
	
	The costs of consultancy charged to programmes budgets (supporting external front-line delivery) before November 2004 were not recorded centrally, and could now be provided only at disproportionate cost. The total cost of consultancy charged to programmes from November to March 2004-05 was 4.4 million.
	From the year 2005/06, consultancy costs as a whole have been captured. Set out as follows are comparable annual consultancy costs for the Department; your request for quarterly expenditure details is however one which could be met only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Expenditure on consultants 
			million 
			 2005/06 21.5 
			 2006/07 45.1 
			 2007/08 61.4 
			 2008/09 59.2

Departmental NDPBs

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what budget his Department has agreed with each of its non-departmental bodies for the period 2009 to 2011.

Diana Johnson: Funding has only been agreed for 2009-10 and is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  2009-10 
			  Name   million 
			 British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (BECTA) 43 
			 Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) 124 
			 Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC) 70 
			 National College for School Leadership (NCSL) 86 
			 Partnership for Schools (PFS) 21 
			 Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) 132 
			 School Food Trust (SFT) 7 
			 Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) 708 
			 11 Million 3

Departmental Public Expenditure

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families with reference to table 8.4 of his Department's annual report for 2009, which individual programmes and corresponding allocations for 2010-11 are aggregated under the items  (a) Sure Start,  (b) 14-19 Development,  (c) Qualifications and Curriculum,  (d) Youth Programmes,  (e) other students' fund,  (f) school standards grants and  (g) academies.

Diana Johnson: The Department's programmes shown aggregated in DCSF's Departmental Annual Report 2009 for the year 2010-11 are provided in the following table:
	
		
			  Departmental report allocation 2010-11 
			  Programme details  000 
			  (a) Sure Start  
			 Sure Start: Other Current Programmes 72,309 
			 Sure Start LA Current Grants 1,540,382 
			 Childcare Initiative 41,900 
			 Sure StartLA Capital Grants 315,025 
			 Extended Schools and Study Support 457,466 
			 Sure Start total 2,427,082 
			   
			  (b) 14-19 Development  
			 14-19 Local Delivery 116,681 
			 14-19 Diploma Costs 25,500 
			 Attainment at 19 30,071 
			 Bridging Allowances and Community Industry Pensions 1,455 
			 14-19 Development total 173,707 
			  (c) Qualifications and Curriculum  
			 Qualifications and Curriculum 91,762 
			 Qualifications and Curriculum total 91,762 
			   
			  (d) Youth Programmes  
			 Contact Point (Capital) 35,200 
			 Youth Challenge Fund 4,300 
			 Workforce Development Capital Grant 218 
			 National Youth Agency (NYA)/National Voluntary Youth Agency (NVYO) Grants 8,000 
			 Children and Families Directorate (CFD) Capital Grant 21,334 
			 Voluntary Child Services (VCS) Children Young People and Families (CYPF) Grant and capacity improving 21,802 
			 Communications/Participation/Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAHMS) 864 
			 Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS)/Integrated Children's System (ICS)/Making Safeguarding Everyone's Responsibility (MSER)/Adoption Strategy/Quality Protects (QP) 59,523 
			 Family Fund Trust/Contact a Family 23,322 
			 10 Year Strategy Additions 66,000 
			 Youth Sector Support 40,000 
			 Peer Mentoring 240 
			 Youth Programmes total 280,803 
			   
			  (e) Other Standards Fund  
			 Standards Fund Current 2,213,161 
			 Other Standards Fund total 2,213,161 
			   
			  (f) School Standards Grant  
			 School Standard Grants 1,665,925 
			 School Standards Grant total 1,665,925 
			   
			  (g) Academies  
			 City Academy recurrent 284,312 
			 Academies total 284,312

Education: Finance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what resources from which standards funds have been allocated by his Department in the last 12 months.

Vernon Coaker: The following table shows the Standards Fund allocations made to local authorities for 2008-09 and 2009-10 to date.
	
		
			  Standards Fund allocations to local authorities 
			   million 
			   2008-09  2009-10 
			  Revenue Grants   
			 School Development Grant 1,915.0 1,950.8 
			 School Lunch Grant 78.8 78.8 
			 Ethnic Minority Achievement Grant 184.9 194.0 
			 Targeted Improvement Grant(1) 12.2 15.1 
			 Making Good Progress 7.7 126.6 
			 1-2-1 Tuition and Participation Key Stage 2 early roll out(2) 15.7  
			 Extended SchoolsSustainability 73.5 134.5 
			 Extended Schools Subsidy 7.1 37.8 
			 Targeted Support for the Primary National Strategy 195.8 220.3 
			 Targeted Support for the Secondary National Strategy 109.5 108.3 
			 City Challenge(1) 32.8 10.13 
			 Extending and increasing flexibility of free entitlement for 3-4 year olds 80.0 170.0 
			 Music 82.6 82.5 
			 Playing for Success 12.8 13.1 
			 Key Stage 4 Engagement Programme 17.0 18.5 
			 National Challenge(1) 54.9 37.3 
			 Total Revenue Grants 2,880.2 3197.7 
			
			  Capital Grants( 3)   
			 Devolved Formula Capital 802.0 1,090.5 
			 Building Schools for the Future (BSF)(4) 635.8 849.4 
			 Primary Capital Programme 143.5 734.8 
			 Targeted Capital Fund (TCF)Standards and Diversity 53.6 66.8 
			 Targeted Capital Fund (TCF)One School Pathfinders 435.4 329.0 
			 Targeted Capital Fund (TCF)Main Programme 170.5 9.5 
			 Targeted Capital Fund (TCF)Kitchens 8.3 47.1 
			 Targeted Capital Fund (TCF)Cookery in the Curriculum 1.0 30.1 
			 Targeted Capital Fund (TCF)14-19 Diploma/SEN  302.3 
			 Targeted Capital Fund (TCF)Specialist Sports Colleges(5)  22.0 
			 Modernisation  300.6 
			 Harnessing Technology 200.8 200.8 
			 Framework Academies(4) 101.3 263.0 
			 Extended Schools (Capital) 84.0 89.0 
			 Miscellaneous Capital 24.8 34.7 
			 Basic Need Safety Valve 22.7 19.3 
			 City Learning Centres 15.8 15.8 
			 Specialist Schools Capital 17.5 12.9 
			 School Travel Plans 15.4 11.0 
			 Home Access for Targeted Groups(6) 18.0  
			 Total Capital Grants 2,750.3 4,428.6 
			 (1) Further allocations to be made during 2009-10 as projects progress. (2 )Within Making Good Progress from 2009-10. (3 )From October 2009 the Department has transferred certain of its operational functions in relation to schools capital funding, including capital grant payments to local authorities, to Partnerships for Schools. (4) Full year spend for 2009-10 could reach 1,010 million (BSF) and 350 million (Framework Academies) if projects in the pipeline reach their expected milestones during the year. (5) Part of TCF Standards and Diversity programme in 2008-09. (6) Home Access Programme will be not routed through local authorities in 2009-10.

Departmental ICT

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what IT systems have been in development for use within his Department in the last five years, what the reasons for the development of each system are; how much has been spent on the development of each system; and which systems have subsequently been  (a) implemented,  (b) terminated prior to implementation and  (c) terminated following implementation.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The following table summarises the information requested for expenditure over 0.1 million on IT systems developed within HM Treasury in the five years to October 2009.
	
		
			  System name  Reason for development  Status  Amount spent ( million) 
			 Budget and Finance Bill Database Secure single data repository for Budget and pre-Budget report data management and reporting Implemented 0.2 
		
	
	In respect of the Department's Corporate Shared Services Programme, which had an IT-enabling element to underpin the shared Human Resource service for people in HM Treasury and the Office of Government Commerce, I refer the hon. Lady to the answer my predecessor gave to the hon. Member for Cardiff, Central (Jenny Willott) on 28 January 2009,  Official Report, column 584W. It is not possible to disaggregate the cost of the IT-enabled element from the overall costs of the programme.

Taxation: Holiday Accommodation

Lembit �pik: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people obtained relief under the furnished holiday letting rules for occupancy rates of  (a) 10,  (b) 15,  (c) 20 and  (d) more than 25 weeks in the 2007-08 tax year; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: HMRC administrative systems do not hold information about the occupancy rates of let property, including properties let by those obtaining relief under the furnished holiday lettings rules.
	An impact assessment will be published at the 2009 pre-Budget report alongside draft legislation.

Taxation: Holiday Accommodation

Lembit �pik: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether following the abolition of the furnished holiday letting rules owners of self-catering cottages and owners of bed and breakfast establishments will be subject to the same taxation regime.

Stephen Timms: Following abolition of the Furnished Holiday Letting rules, the owners of most self catering cottages will be taxed on the basis that they are carrying on a property business, but where additional services are provided, some or all of the activities may amount to a trade.
	There are long established rules for deciding whether an activity is a trade. Under these rules, running a bed and breakfast establishment is normally a trade.

Valuation Office

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a gateway review was undertaken in relation to the Valuation Office Agency's Geographical Information System.

Ian Pearson: The OGC Gateway review process applies to all major projects across Government and is designed to ensure high standards of project management.
	OGC has not carried out a Gateway review of the VOA GIS project as it does not fall into the category of a major project. The VOA's GIS project has been categorised as low risk and is therefore subject to a different level of review.

Valuation Office: Data Protection

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Ludlow of 14 September 2009,  Official Report, column 2134W, on the Valuation Office: data protection, whether photographs of dwellings held on the Valuation Office Agency's photographic database are treated as personal data.

Ian Pearson: All data, including photographs, which qualified as personal data in accordance with paragraph 1.1 of the Data Protection Act 1998 is treated in accordance with that Act by the Valuation Office Agency.

Valuation Office: Data Protection

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Ludlow of 14 September 2009,  Official Report, column 2134W, on the Valuation Office: data protection, since what date the Valuation Office Agency has treated domestic property attribute data on individual dwellings as personal data.

Ian Pearson: Since 1998, all data, including domestic property attributes, which qualified as personal data in accordance with paragraph 1.1 of the Data Protection Act 1998 is treated in accordance with that Act by the Valuation Office Agency.

Valuation Office: Land Registry

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Valuation Office Agency has spent on the Land Registry Direct service since February 2007.

Ian Pearson: Over the period February 2007 to September 2009, the VOA spent 56,831 on the Land Registry Direct service.

Welfare Tax Credits

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the effect on public expenditure of removing the second income threshold on tax credits and applying a consistent taper rate of  (a) 40 per cent.,  (b) 41 per cent. and  (c) 42 per cent. in each of the next five years; and if he will estimate the number of people who would have their awards reduced to zero in each case.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 15 October 2009
	The estimated savings from 2010-11 to 2014-15 from removing the second income threshold and applying a consistent taper rate at each of the rates requested, is provided in the following table. No account has been taken of possible behavioural effects.
	
		
			  Effect on expenditure 
			   million 
			  Taper rate  2010-11  2011-12  2012-13  2013-14  2014-15 
			 40 per cent. -1,010 -1,020 -1,000 -990 -960 
			 41 per cent. -1,290 -1,320 -1,310 -1,310 -1,300 
			 42 per cent. -1,560 -1,600 -1,610 -1,620 -1,630 
		
	
	Estimates of the additional number of claimants who would have their awards tapered to zero if these measures were implemented immediately are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Additional number of claimants with awards tapered to zero 
			  Thousand 
			 40 per cent. 1,520 
			 41 per cent. 1,590 
			 42 per cent. 1,640

Welfare Tax Credits

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the effect on the Exchequer of reducing the income disregard for tax credits from 25,000 to  (a) 2,500 and (b) 0 in each of the next five years.

Stephen Timms: This information requested is available only at disproportionate cost due to the complexity of the computations and assumptions involved. Reducing the income disregard would result in significant additional overpayments being generated. The extent to which these impact on the Exchequer will depend on the timing of these overpayments and whether or not they are ultimately recovered. There may also be a behavioural effect as incentives to report income changes could also be affected.
	The hon. Member may find it informative to refer to the answer given to the hon. Member for Rayleigh (Mr. Francois), on 7 November 2006,  Official Report, column 1043-1044W, regarding the estimated cost of increasing the income disregard from 2,500 to 25,000.

Charities

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 12 May 2009,  Official Report, columns 690-92W, on charities: insolvency, 
	(1)  how many registered charities have declared themselves insolvent in each month since March 2009; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 6 July 2009,  Official Report, columns 251-53W, on charities, how many charities there were on the Charity Commission register in each month since March 2009; and if she will make a statement.

Angela Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Charity Commission. I have asked the Commission to reply.
	 Letter from Andrew Hind, dated October 2009:
	As the Chief Executive of the Charity Commission, I have been asked to respond to your written Parliamentary Question on how many registered charities declared themselves insolvent in each month since March 2009; and how many charities have been on the Charity Commission register in each month since March 2009.
	With regard to how many registered charities declared themselves insolvent in each month since March 2009, the Charity Commission does not currently record this information centrally. However, I have set out the number of charities who were removed from the register, in each month, since March 2009 with the reasons recorded for their removal.
	The table below refers to those charities which are required to register with the Commission by law. Smaller charities are not required to register with us; the threshold for registration was an annual income of 1,000 until April 2007 when this threshold was increased to 5,000.
	
		
			  Number 
			   2009  
			  Reason for removal  March  April  May  June  July  August  September  Total 
			 Ceased to exist or operate due to merger, incorporation or transfer of funds 103 188 90 124 214 74 141 934 
			 Ceased to exist or operate for other reasons 328 290 195 247 559 2,553 6,277 10,449 
			 Voluntary removal of charities below the minimum registration threshold 300 1,379 739 216 108 69 52 2,863 
			 Duplicate registrations and other corrections 6 17 2 3 3 4 0 35 
			 Total 737 1,874 1,026 590 884 2,700 6,470 14,281 
		
	
	Charities removed from the Register due to insolvency are likely to have fallen under the category Ceased to exist or operate for other reasons. However, it is unlikely that insolvency accounts for more than a small minority.
	The increase in numbers of charities removed from August 2009 is a result of our work to improve the accuracy of the Register of Charities. A key aspect of our strategy is the prompt removal of charities that are inactive and with which we can no longer establish contact. The marked peak of removals of charities that have ceased to exist or operate in September 2009 is a direct consequence of this strategy.
	With regard to how many charities have been on the Charity Commission register in each month since March 2009, please see the table below.
	
		
			  Number 
			   2009 
			   31 March  April  May  June  July  August  September 
			 Main charities 166,132 164,847 164,368 164,388 164,144 162,417 157,415 
			 Linked charities 22,769 22,662 22,657 22,639 22,486 22,083 21,305 
			 Total 188,901 187,509 187,025 187,027 186,630 184,500 178,720 
		
	
	Main charities are those required to prepare accounts and send an Annual Return or Annual Update to the Commission. Linked charities, such as subsidiary, group or constituent charities are each linked to a main charity for administrative purposes and do not report their financial results in their own right.
	It is a rather complex picture because of the unusually high number of charities removed from the Register in recent months. I would be happy to give you a more detailed background briefing if that would be helpful.

Charities: Government Assistance

John Battle: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what support her Department has made available to charities in the Leeds area during the recession; and if she will make a statement.

Angela Smith: As part of the Government support for the third sector during the recession, over 1.7 million has been provided to organisations in and around the Leeds area:
	The Hardship Fund made three awards to organisations in Leeds totalling 228,498.
	The Targeted Support Fund made 55 grants, which totalled 1.38 million in Calderdale, Kirklees, Wakefield and Bradford.
	Nine organisations in the Leeds local authority area were successfully awarded Modernisation Fund bursaries (worth 9,000 in total). One organisation has received a Modernisation Fund loan in Leeds for 100,000.
	As part of Government's response to recession, the Department for Work and Pensions is working with Voluntary Action Leeds to provide volunteer brokerage to individuals that have been unemployed for longer than six months.
	A regional roadshow was held in the Yorkshire and Humber region on 21 April 2009 to promote the Government's recession support measures.
	I am pleased that many third sector organisations in the Leeds area have been successful in accessing the Government's recession measures. This support is in addition to the 515 million that Government are already providing to support the third sector across England through its core programmes.

Gangmasters: Telephone Services

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he has taken to publicise his Department's Pay and Work Rights telephone helpline service to vulnerable workers, including those employed by gangmasters.

Patrick McFadden: On 22 September 2009 BIS launched a 2.5 million awareness raising campaign aimed at promoting the Pay and Work Rights Helpline to vulnerable workers and employers. This includes communications in national press, radio, leaflets, online, and face-to-face activity. Areas covered by the GLA have been included in this messaging and a specific element aimed at gangmasters and their workers is planned.

Higher Education: Radicalism

Iris Robinson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to minimise the influence of extremist Islamic activists in universities.

David Lammy: There is some evidence of extremist or radical groups or individuals operating on a handful of campuses. Where the problem occurs it is very serious but it is not widespread. As part of HMG's Prevent strategy, there are a range of activities taking place within universities to help them manage the risk of violent extremism or radicalisation taking place within their institutions.
	1. In January 2008, the former Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills issues guidance to all universities in England setting out practical advice and guidance on how to increase cohesion on campus and manage the risk of violent extremism.
	2. This guidance is now being followed up with targeted support from BIS officials and police colleagues to some universities which fall within Prevent funded local authority areas.
	3. BIS are also funding a full time inter-faith and Prevent officer at the NUS to work specifically to raise awareness and undertake training of NUS staff and officers.
	4. Funding is being given to the Association of Muslim Chaplains in Higher Education through the CLG Community Leadership Fund to help them increase their capacity to support Muslim Chaplains working in HE and enable to them to deliver more effective pastoral support for Muslim students.

Higher Education: Student Numbers

Jim Cousins: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many  (a) UK and  (b) overseas students there were at each university in (i) 2004-05, (ii) 2007-08 and (iii) 2008-09.

David Lammy: The numbers of UK and overseas students enrolled at UK higher education institutions in 2004-05 and 2007-08 are given in Table 1 and Table 2. Enrolment numbers for 2004-05 and 2007-08 may not be directly comparable due to institutions changing their names and/or merging.
	Figures for the 2008/09 academic year will be available in January 2010.
	
		
			  Table 1: Student enrolments( 1)  by institution and region of domicileUK higher education institutions, academic year 2004-05 
			   Region of student domicile 
			  Institution  UK  EU  Other  o verseas 
			 Open University 173,010 5 5 
			 Cranfield University 2,825 940 800 
			 Royal College of Art 535 200 130 
			 Royal College of Nursing 850 5 25 
			 Bishop Grosseteste College 1,485 0 0 
			 Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College 8,130 255 895 
			 Central School of Speech and Drama 770 65 65 
			 University of Chester 12,040 210 250 
			 Canterbury Christ Church University 14,015 250 355 
			 York St John College 5,515 25 180 
			 College of St Mark and St John 4,400 45 180 
			 Darlington College of Arts 510 45 20 
			 Edge Hill College of HE 14,470 90 50 
			 University College Falmouth 1,805 55 100 
			 Harper Adams University College 1,650 60 35 
			 Homerton College 2,740 5 20 
			 Kent Institute of Art and Design 1,740 220 265 
			 University of Winchester 4,650 35 95 
			 Liverpool Hope University 6,485 280 485 
			 University of the Arts, London 8,475 1,475 2,775 
			 University of Luton 8,240 1,130 2,400 
			 University College Northampton 9,640 150 540 
			 Newman College of Higher Education 2,305 75 10 
			 Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication 950 55 90 
			 Roehampton University 7,170 320 435 
			 Rose Bruford College 745 55 65 
			 Royal Academy of Music 410 110 205 
			 Royal College of Music 335 135 130 
			 Royal Northern College of Music 420 45 90 
			 Southampton Solent University 10,070 390 790 
			 St Martin's College 12,055 205 90 
			 St Mary's College 3,200 290 10 
			 Trinity and All Saints College 2,440 30 35 
			 Trinity College of Music 535 165 90 
			 Surrey Institute of Art and Design, University College 2,445 135 175 
			 University College Worcester 7,290 130 120 
			 Anglia Polytechnic University 24,055 1,155 1,085 
			 Bath Spa University 6,010 100 160 
			 University of Bolton 6,685 150 600 
			 Bournemouth University 13,605 465 1,125 
			 University of Brighton 17,345 1,405 1,250 
			 University of Central England in Birmingham 21,240 440 1,220 
			 University of Central Lancashire 24,440 605 1,675 
			 University of Gloucestershire 8,100 125 350 
			 Coventry University 16,465 1,050 1,875 
			 University of Derby 12,920 505 495 
			 University of East London 13,205 950 2,180 
			 University of Greenwich 18,130 970 3,170 
			 University of Hertfordshire 19,110 530 3,325 
			 University of Huddersfield 16,635 445 795 
			 University of Lincoln 11,960 580 445 
			 Kingston University 17,695 1,110 1,675 
			 Leeds Metropolitan University 24,675 730 2,630 
			 Liverpool John Moores University 20,145 855 1,770 
			 Manchester Metropolitan University 29,525 785 1,385 
			 Middlesex University 18,865 1,205 4,785 
			 De Montfort University 21,225 400 1,040 
			 University of Northumbria at Newcastle 21,955 730 2,770 
			 Nottingham Trent University 24,770 555 1,065 
			 Oxford Brookes University 15,095 905 2,200 
			 University of Plymouth 27,095 695 1,130 
			 University of Portsmouth 17,015 1,310 2,440 
			 Sheffield Hallam University 25,365 495 2,065 
			 London South Bank University 17,750 980 2,320 
			 Staffordshire University 12,910 825 1,255 
			 University of Sunderland 15,280 735 2,560 
			 University of Teesside 19,220 590 615 
			 Thames Valley University 17,385 1,000 1,625 
			 University of the West of England, Bristol 25,200 800 1,215 
			 University College Chichester 4,895 145 125 
			 University of Westminster 20,790 1,840 3,670 
			 Wimbledon School of Art 555 45 50 
			 University of Wolverhampton 19,875 825 2,325 
			 University of Wales, Newport 8,635 165 255 
			 North-East Wales Institute of Higher Education 5,235 830 75 
			 University of Wales Institute, Cardiff 8,150 255 550 
			 University of Glamorgan 18,865 1,005 1,460 
			 Swansea Institute of Higher Education 5,230 205 125 
			 Trinity College, Carmarthen 2,155 50 10 
			 University of Abertay Dundee 3,420 280 445 
			 Edinburgh College of Art 1,295 185 210 
			 Glasgow School of Art 1,330 120 140 
			 Queen Margaret University College, Edinburgh 4,330 245 525 
			 Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama 580 40 55 
			 Robert Gordon University 10,055 675 1,340 
			 University of Paisley 12,050 260 345 
			 Glasgow Caledonian University 14,885 315 660 
			 Napier University 11,000 1,465 975 
			 Aston University 6,270 360 1,350 
			 University of Bath 10,835 830 1,800 
			 University of Birmingham 23,615 1,020 3,865 
			 University of Bradford 8,565 460 2,080 
			 University of Bristol 18,195 805 1,965 
			 Brunel University 11,725 890 1,655 
			 University of Cambridge 19,280 1,505 3,410 
			 City University 16,990 1,270 2,730 
			 University of Durham 13,955 570 1,925 
			 University of East Anglia 12,180 505 1,200 
			 University of Essex 7,370 940 2,055 
			 University of Exeter 11,920 515 1,285 
			 University of Hull 17,910 665 2,235 
			 University of Keele 10,425 290 980 
			 University of Kent 13,505 1,015 1,550 
			 University of Lancaster 14,540 755 1,585 
			 University of Leeds 30,180 1,065 4,215 
			 University of Leicester 13,025 620 2,300 
			 University of Liverpool 17,855 620 1,865 
			 Birkbeck College 13,965 290 485 
			 Goldsmiths College 5,925 555 735 
			 Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine 7,900 1,400 2,810 
			 Institute of Education 5,635 345 795 
			 King's College London 17,410 1,450 2,315 
			 London Business School 580 265 770 
			 London School of Economics and Political Science 3,235 1,440 3,740 
			 London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine 405 125 440 
			 Queen Mary and Westfield College 8,135 545 2,080 
			 Royal Holloway and Bedford New College 5,515 650 1,290 
			 Royal Veterinary College 1,175 80 140 
			 St George's Hospital Medical School 3,195 80 140 
			 School of Oriental and African Studies 2,180 545 1,145 
			 School of Pharmacy 1,010 45 170 
			 University College London 13,940 1,830 3,805 
			 University of London (Institutes and activities) 270 55 75 
			 Loughborough University 13,120 565 2,580 
			 University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne 14,485 810 2,490 
			 University of Nottingham 25,740 870 4,245 
			 University of Oxford 17,225 1,625 3,770 
			 University of Reading 11,935 660 1,410 
			 University of Salford 16,960 580 1,550 
			 University of Sheffield 20,985 800 3,390 
			 University of Southampton 18,970 845 1,995 
			 University of Surrey 10,995 1,360 2,510 
			 University of Sussex 9,945 890 980 
			 University of Warwick 21,660 1,870 5,265 
			 University of York 10,065 635 1,530 
			 University of Edinburgh 18,370 1,535 2,355 
			 University of Glasgow 22,080 700 1,650 
			 University of Strathclyde 20,300 560 1,385 
			 University of Aberdeen 11,465 685 1,295 
			 Heriot-Watt University 6,195 745 1,255 
			 University of Dundee 14,910 555 2,040 
			 University of St Andrews 5,475 765 1,905 
			 University of Stirling 7,485 305 585 
			 Scottish Agricultural College 750 30 10 
			 University of Wales, Lampeter 7,335 675 475 
			 University of Wales, Aberystwyth 9,050 505 690 
			 University of Wales, Bangor 8,680 385 435 
			 Cardiff University 24,115 975 2,780 
			 University of Wales, Swansea 12,405 300 990 
			 Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama 565 20 30 
			 Queen's University of Belfast 21,940 1,350 880 
			 University of Ulster 22,935 2,755 535 
			 University of Wales, Registry 0 0 0 
			 Institute of Cancer Research 75 25 30 
			 Writtle College 1,025 50 95 
			 Norwich School of Art and Design 765 25 30 
			 Northern School of Contemporary Dance 0 0 0 
			 Cumbria Institute of the Arts 925 105 15 
			 Stranmillis University College 1,390 40 0 
			 St. Mary's University College 1,045 65 0 
			 Royal Agricultural College 625 20 45 
			 UHI Millennium Institute 6,130 115 60 
			 Arts Institute at Bournemouth 1,340 65 90 
			 Bell College 3,830 5 10 
			 Conservatoire for Dance and Drama 750 155 85 
			 Birmingham College of Food, Tourism and Creative Studies 2,645 170 655 
			 Courtauld Institute of Art 255 45 85 
			 London Metropolitan University 22,075 1,935 4,760 
			 University of Buckingham 165 45 475 
			 University of Manchester 32,425 1,580 5,060 
			 Total 1,939,150 93,995 203,125 
			 (1) Covers full-time and part-time enrolments to postgraduate and undergraduate courses.  Notes: 1. Figures are on a HESA Standard Registration Population (SRP) basis. 2. Figures have been rounded to the nearest five and components may not sum to totals.  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Student enrolments( 1)  by institution and region of domicileUK higher education institutions, academic year 2007-08 
			   Region of student domicile 
			  Institution  UK  EU  Other  o verseas 
			 The Open University 181,365 210 120 
			 Cranfield University 2,360 1,150 1,075 
			 Royal College of Art 575 230 145 
			 Bishop Grosseteste University College Lincoln 1,895 0 25 
			 Buckinghamshire New University 8,075 475 715 
			 Central School of Speech and Drama 770 40 70 
			 University of Chester 13,135 195 185 
			 Canterbury Christ Church University 14,455 635 460 
			 York St John University 6,050 70 85 
			 University College Plymouth St Mark and St John 3,525 40 185 
			 Dartington College of Arts 585 30 10 
			 Edge Hill University 19,960 85 95 
			 University College Falmouth 2,205 45 70 
			 Harper Adams University College 4,000 75 145 
			 University of Winchester 5,015 85 140 
			 Liverpool Hope University 6,525 235 300 
			 University of the Arts, London 10,195 1,660 3,505 
			 University of Bedfordshire 10,855 1,660 1,680 
			 University of Northampton 10,550 190 845 
			 Newman University College 2,620 60 5 
			 Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication 895 40 75 
			 Roehampton University 7,460 315 455 
			 Rose Bruford College 840 60 60 
			 Royal Academy of Music 410 125 195 
			 Royal College of Music 350 135 135 
			 Royal Northern College of Music 525 50 115 
			 Southampton Solent University 9,280 605 965 
			 University of Cumbria 11,690 260 95 
			 St Mary's University College, Twickenham 3,800 315 30 
			 Leeds Trinity and All Saints 2,885 40 80 
			 Trinity Laban 670 125 85 
			 University of Worcester 7,350 200 215 
			 Anglia Ruskin University 17,150 1,090 765 
			 Bath Spa University 7,290 70 105 
			 University of Bolton 7,070 190 585 
			 Bournemouth University 15,845 680 1,350 
			 University of Brighton 18,630 1,400 1,190 
			 Birmingham City University 21,365 385 1,495 
			 University of Central Lancashire 25,385 1,030 4,830 
			 University of Gloucestershire 8,010 205 300 
			 Coventry University 16,680 1,245 2,450 
			 University of Derby 14,735 740 675 
			 University of East London 16,055 875 2,500 
			 University of Greenwich 19,625 1,010 3,875 
			 University of Hertfordshire 19,170 570 3,095 
			 University of Huddersfield 18,955 680 800 
			 University of Lincoln 10,720 605 315 
			 Kingston University 20,060 1,525 2,405 
			 Leeds Metropolitan University 25,175 795 1,245 
			 Liverpool John Moores University 21,780 795 1,875 
			 The Manchester Metropolitan University 30,060 1,125 1,780 
			 Middlesex University 16,880 1,380 3,360 
			 De Montfort University 18,875 395 1,120 
			 University of Northumbria at Newcastle 24,690 80CL 4,505 
			 The Nottingham Trent University 21,175 500 1,830 
			 Oxford Brookes University 15,065 975 1,995 
			 University of Plymouth 27,465 840 1,070 
			 University of Portsmouth 16,845 890 1,825 
			 Sheffield Hallam University 27,355 705 3,030 
			 London South Bank University 19,235 1,165 1,940 
			 Staffordshire University 14,135 420 1,180 
			 University of Sunderland 14,530 705 2,470 
			 University of Teesside 23,995 595 815 
			 Thames Valley University 15,160 1,185 1,795 
			 University of the West of England, Bristol 29,130 980 1,585 
			 University of Chichester 4,660 75 65 
			 University of Westminster 17,780 2,030 3,420 
			 University of Wolverhampton 18,260 1,180 1,865 
			 University of Wales, Newport 8,620 130 370 
			 Glyndwr University 5,135 1,635 495 
			 University of Wales Institute, Cardiff 8,060 230 1,615 
			 University of Glamorgan 18,935 1,740 2,040 
			 Swansea Metropolitan University 5,185 200 210 
			 Trinity College, Carmarthen 2,145 55 25 
			 University of Abertay Dundee 3,105 625 405 
			 Edinburgh College of Art 1,200 195 200 
			 Glasgow School of Art 1,325 155 270 
			 Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh 4,560 320 450 
			 The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama 605 45 125 
			 The Robert Gordon University 9,835 815 1,615 
			 University of the West of Scotland 17,080 490 565 
			 Glasgow Caledonian University 15,215 330 1,225 
			 Napier University 9,930 1,625 1,435 
			 Aston University 7,065 495 2,010 
			 University of Bath 9,650 1,090 2,225 
			 University of Birmingham 23,110 1,185 3,945 
			 University of Bradford 9,210 960 2,205 
			 University of Bristol 14,635 890 2,285 
			 Brunel University 11,310 765 2,195 
			 University of Cambridge 17,520 1,790 3,435 
			 The City University 16,100 1,805 3,505 
			 University of Durham 13,320 625 2,330 
			 University of East Anglia 13,445 580 1,670 
			 University of Essex 8,360 1,075 2,075 
			 University of Exeter 12,455 610 1,640 
			 University of Hull 18,420 705 1,880 
			 University of Keele 10,215 315 885 
			 University of Kent 14,985 1,170 1,650 
			 University of Lancaster 11,080 885 1,755 
			 University of Leeds 27,020 1,185 4,045 
			 University of Leicester 12,485 720 2,150 
			 University of Liverpool 16,885 665 1,830 
			 Birkbeck College 16,025 595 605 
			 Goldsmiths College 6,055 700 740 
			 Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine 8,480 1,800 3,560 
			 Institute of Education 6,230 395 760 
			 Kings College London 16,955 1,675 2,480 
			 London Business School 500 245 810 
			 London School of Economics and Political Science 2,935 1,675 4,495 
			 London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine 545 110 440 
			 Queen Mary and Westfield College 10,450 840 2,320 
			 Royal Holloway and Bedford New College 5,895 805 1,680 
			 The Royal Veterinary College 1,615 65 115 
			 St Georges Hospital Medical School 3,805 110 245 
			 The School of Oriental and African Studies 2,655 710 1,365 
			 The School of Pharmacy 1,005 45 180 
			 University College London 14,150 2,335 4,510 
			 University of London (Institutes and activities) 180 40 70 
			 Loughborough University 12,765 665 3,215 
			 University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne 15,590 930 2,535 
			 University of Nottingham 24,340 1,655 5,830 
			 University of Oxford 17,560 1,975 4,445 
			 University of Reading 11,905 825 1,745 
			 University of Salford 16,475 910 1,800 
			 University of Sheffield 19,775 1,035 3,750 
			 University of Southampton 19,645 1,165 2,955 
			 University of Surrey 11,195 1,625 2,250 
			 University of Sussex 10,465 890 1,100 
			 University of Warwick 21,640 2,010 4,795 
			 University of York 10,460 685 2,040 
			 University of Edinburgh 18,785 1,755 3,015 
			 University of Glasgow 21,020 1,025 1,690 
			 University of Strathclyde 19,235 565 1,940 
			 University of Aberdeen 11,185 1,210 1,745 
			 Heriot-Watt University 7,015 1,140 1,905 
			 University of Dundee 14,120 735 1,865 
			 University of St Andrews 5,575 800 1,795 
			 University of Stirling 8,225 450 1,130 
			 Scottish Agricultural College 850 45 25 
			 University of Wales, Lampeter 6,660 555 670 
			 Aberystwyth University 8,560 745 560 
			 Bangor University 9,030 445 1,040 
			 Cardiff University 22,445 945 3,20C 
			 Swansea University 12,160 345 1,36E 
			 The Queens University of Belfast 20,190 1,135 90C 
			 University of Ulster 20,720 2,510 41C 
			 The Institute of Cancer Research 225 35 4C 
			 Writtle College 880 30 7 
			 Norwich University College of the Arts 1,200 15 E 
			 Stranmillis University College 1,260 35 0 
			 St Mary's University College 1,000 40 0 
			 Royal Agricultural College 740 30 115 
			 UHI Millennium Institute 7,420 75 90 
			 The Arts Institute at Bournemouth 1,810 80 110 
			 Conservatoire for Dance and Drama 850 185 105 
			 University College Birmingham 3,000 255 665 
			 Courtauld Institute of Art 295 55 90 
			 London Metropolitan University 21,600 2,370 4,005 
			 University of Buckingham 370 65 550 
			 University of Manchester 28,985 1,910 6,465 
			 Heythrop College 675 30 40 
			 University for the Creative Arts 4,725 385 320 
			 Leeds College of Music 670 15 20 
			 Guildhall School of Music and Drama 505 190 100 
			 The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts 735 25 125 
			 University Campus Suffolk 4,235 20 25 
			 Total 1,964,315 112,150 229,640 
			 (1) Covers full-time and part-time enrolments to postgraduate and undergraduate courses.  Notes: 1. Figures are on a HESA Standard Registration Population (SRP) basis. 2. Figures have been rounded to the nearest five and components may not sum to totals.  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)

Low Carbon Industrial Strategy

Dai Davies: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills for what reasons copies of the Low Carbon Industrial Strategy were not placed in the Vote Office after publication on 15 July 2009.

Patrick McFadden: Around 30 copies of the Department's report The UK Low Carbon Industrial Strategy were placed in the Vote Office on the morning of its publication. Unfortunately, demand for the report exceeded the number of copies available and there was a delay in obtaining additional copies for the Vote Office. I am sorry that some hon. Members were inconvenienced by being unable to get a copy from the Vote Office. The report was placed in the Libraries of the House on the morning of its publication, however, and it was also available on the Department's internet site, as indicated in the written ministerial statement.

National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts: Finance

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what the  (a) income and  (b) expenditure of the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts was in each of the last three financial years.

David Lammy: holding answer 14 October 2009
	 The income and expenditure for the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) in the last three financial years was as follows:
	
		
			  000 
			   Income  Expenditure 
			 2006/07 21,987 20,531 
			 2007/08 35,574 31,571 
			 2008/09 29,969 25,496 
		
	
	This information can be found in NESTA's annual report and accounts for each year, which are available in the Library.

National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts: Party Conferences

Don Foster: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what costs were incurred by the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts in attending the  (a) Liberal Democrat,  (b) Labour,  (c) Conservative and  (d) Scottish National Party conference in 2009.

David Lammy: holding answer 14 October 2009
	NESTA incurred the following expenditure from attending party conferences in 2009:
	
		
			
			 Liberal Democrats 3,598 
			 Labour 13,436 
			 Conservative 13,400 
			 SNP 8,294

Post Offices

Charles Kennedy: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with Post Office Ltd on the future of the Network Change programme; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: I am in regular contact with Post Office Ltd. on a range of issues relating to the network.
	The Network Change programme is now completed with the exception of three branches which will be replaced by Outreach services during the autumn. 93.3 per cent. of the total UK population remain within one mile of their nearest post office outlet.
	Post Office Ltd. is on course to achieve the expected cost-savings as a result of the programme, as part of an overall plan to reduce its costs by 270 million per annum, by 2010-11.
	The level of customer business migrating from post offices which have closed under the programme to the remaining branches in the network is above target at 88 per cent.

Public Bodies: Finance

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what the return profit from the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts' portfolio of investments was in each year since 1998.

David Lammy: holding answer 12 October 2009
	The National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) received the following returns from investing its endowment:
	
		
			   million 
			 1998-99 8.37 
			 1999-2000 11.80 
			 2000-01 12.85 
			 2001-02 9.66 
			 2002-03 9.39 
			 2003-04 9.76 
			 2004-05 13.40 
			 2005-06 13.75 
			 2006-07 9.26 
			 2007-08 22.46 
			 2008-09 14.27 
		
	
	These figures are exclusive of bank interest received and are lower than the figures quoted in NESTA's annual reports and accounts for each year, which are available in the House of Commons Library.

Climate Change

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on how many occasions Ministers from Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland's devolved administrations have been included in the UK delegation to UN framework convention on climate change conferences since 1999.

Joan Ruddock: Ministers from the Devolved Administrations have never been included on the UK delegation to the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC.
	The Scottish Executive has been represented by either one or two officials on the UK delegation every year since 1999, but where Ministers from the Devolved Administrations have attended, this has always been on other delegations. For example, in 2007 a Scottish Minister participated as a member of the Climate Group delegation.